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HISTORICAL ADDRESS 



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DELIVERED AT THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



Easthampton, Mass. 



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JULY 4, 18TG. 



By KEV. PAYSON W. LYMAIST. 



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SPRINGFIELD, MASS.: 
CLARK W.BRYAN & C O M P A N Y, PR I N T E R S 

1877. 



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T 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS 



DELIVERED AT THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



Easthampton, Mass., 



JULY 4, 1876. 



By key. PAl^SON W. LYMAK 



SPKINGEIELD, MASS. : 
CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 

1877. 



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8«iiree tmkEown 



INTRODUCTORY. 



A MEETING of the citizens interested in having a 
celebration, with an historical address, on the Centen- 
nial 4th of July, was held at the Mansion House on 
the evening of June 21, 1876. 

Lieutenant-Governor Knight was called to the chair. 

After a free and full interchange of views, it was 
voted to appoint a committee of five to consider the 
matter, and report at a subsequent meeting. 

The committee consisted of Lieut-Governor H. G. 
Knight, Hon. E. H. Sawyer, Dea. Lauren D. Lyman, 
Dea. C. B. Johnson, Oscar Ward. 

The committee subsequently reported that it is 
expedient to have a celebration, with an historical 
address, whereupon it was 

Voted, To invite the Rev. Payson W. Lyman of 
Belchertown, to deliver the address, and C. B. John- 
son was appointed a committee to ascertain if Mr. 
Lyman would accept the invitation. He subse- 
quently reported that Mr. Lyman had consented to 
deliver the address. 

It was also voted, that E. R. Bosworth and John 
Mayher be appointed a committee on finance. 

Subsequent meetings, in furtherance of the object, 
were held as follows: One on the evening of June 
22d, another on the evening of the 24th, and still 



IV INTKODUCTORY. 

another on the evening of the 26th. The final meet- 
ing was held June 30th. 

At these meetings it was 

Voted, That the preliminary Committee of Five be 
a permanent Committee of Arrangements. 

Voted, That Maj. Henry E. Alvord be appointed 
chief marshal, with power to employ as many assist- 
ants as he may require. 

Voted, To appoint Henry H. Sawyer a committee 
on vocal music. 

Voted, To invite all the Sabbath-schools in the 
town to unite in the celebration, and the invitation 
was accepted. 

Voted, That the address be delivered in the town 
hall, and that the exercises begin at 3 o'clock p. m. 

Voted, That James Keene, superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school in the First church, A. J. Lyman, su- 
perintendent of the school in the Payson church, S. 
W. Pierce, superintendent of the Methodist Sabbath- 
school, N. W. Farrar, superintendent of the school 
in the Episcopal Society, and the Rev. R. J. Dono- 
van, of the Catholic Sabbath-school, be requested to 
make the necessary arrangements for their respective 
schools. It was decided to set the tables for refresh- 
ments in the Seminary grounds. 

Voted, That the Easthampton Cornet Band be en- 
gaged to furnish music for the procession. 

The One Hundredth Anniversary of our National 
Independence was ushered in by the ringing of bells, 
firing of cannon, blazing of bonfires, and other dem- 
onstrations of joy ; and a procession, headed by a 
drum corps, marching through the principal streets, 
in the early .erray of the morning, finished the first 
act. At 9 o'clock, a. m., the Manhan Hose company, 



INTRODUCTORY. V 

in full uniform, headed by the Easthampton Cornet 
Band, paraded the streets, making an imposing ap- 
pearance. There has been no demonstration like it 
in the town for many years. 

At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the exercises in the 
town hall were opened by Hon. E. H. Sawyer, in be- 
half of the Committee of Arrangements, who spoke 
as follows : 

One hundred years ago to-day, our fathers, few in number, but 
strong in faith and hope, declared themselves free and independ- 
ent, and capable of self-government. From that day to this, they 
and their descendants have maintained the truth of that decla- 
ration ; and this afternoon, in our established freedom, we have 
gathered in this place to speak of the good way the Lord has led 
us in the hundred years just past. After the manner set us 
by our forefathers, to secure an orderly meeting, a Committee of 
Arrangements, chosen for the purjiose at a preliminary gather- 
ing, have agreed to propose officers for this occasion ; and as di- 
rected by said committee, I now nominate as president of the 
day, our townsman, native-born. His Honor the Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor of this Commonwealth; and as secretaries, Lafayette Clapp, 
Esq., and C. B. Johnson, Esq. 

The nominations were carried unanimously, and 
Governor Knight, on taking the chair, spoke as fol- 
lows: 

I cheerfully and gratefully take the place assigned to me on 
this occasion by the Committee of Arrangements ; cheerfully, be- 
cause the duties of the position will be easily performed ; and 
gratefully, because it is an honorable one, and my call to it fur- 
nishes evidence of the continued good-will of my associates and 
fellow-citizens, whose uniform and abounding kindness has placed 
me under the greatest obligations. 

In accordance with the proclamation of the chief magistrate of 
the nation, it is becoming in us, as a Christian people, on this 
one hundredth birthday of our republic, to assemble, as we have 
done ; render thanks to God for his goodness to us in the century 
that has passed ; for our freedom and union ; for our arts and 



VI INTRODUCTORY. 

industries ; for our fields and factories ; for our trade and com- 
merce ; for our homes, our schools, and churches ; and for all his 
benefits to us as a nation ; and to beseech Him that he will be 
our guide and defence during all the years of the century upon 
which we are now entering. 

It will not be proper for me to occupy the time that has been 
assigned to others, and thus detain you from the feast that has 
been prepared. The scenes of this day forcibly remind me of the 
great changes that have come over our own little town during the 
last few years. Some of us remember when our population was 
only about one-sixth of what it is to-day, and when the noble 
families of Clarks, Clapps, Lymans and Wrights, constituted a 
majority. We also had a goodly though smaller number of Poi\> 
eroys. 

Our attention is soon to be directed to some facts and events 
in our local history, by one of the Lyman family, whose tastes 
and studies have well fitted him for the service. As we listen to 
his words, may we remember, and never forget, that a pure and 
upright character is the most precious relic of our past history 
which we can cherish ; and that such a character, built up in us 
and our children, is the noblest monument we can erect to the 
memory of our fathers, and of the men who laid the foundations of 
our government. I am not among those who think the former 
times were greatl}^ better than the present, and who take a de- 
sponding view of the future. We have seen some decay of pri- 
vate virtue and public honor; but now we witness a quickened 
spirit of honor and integrity in the management of public affairs, 
a growing contempt for dishonesty and dishonest men, and a 
hatred of every form of fraud and falsehood, which may well lead 
us to thank God and take courage. 

Permit me to express the earnest hope, that by the exercises 
of this hour, and by all the grateful and patriotic memories of the 
day, we may be inspired with new thankfulness to the God who 
upheld our fathers in their struggle for liberty and independence; 
and who has carried their children through the trials of the cen- 
tury; and that we may all make vows of new devotion to the 
unity and welfare of our dear country, and the preservation and 
purity of its institutions. 

Representative Lafayette Clapp then read the Pres- 
ident's proclamation, after which prayer was offered 



INTRODUCTORY. Vll 

by Rev. A. M. Col ton, the audience joining in the 
Lord's Prayer at the end. Next, the Star Spangled 
Banner was sung by a select choir, under the direc- 
tion of H. H. Sawyer. The Declaration of Independ- 
ence was read by Capt. David Hill, and after the sing- 
ing of Keller's National Hymn, the Rev. Payson Wil- 
liston Lyman, of Belchertown, was announced as the 
speaker of the day. 

At the close of the address, William G. Bassett, Esq., 
offered the following resolution, which was unani- 
mously adopted : 

Resolved, That the thanks of the meeting be re- 
turned to Rev. Payson W. Lyman, for his appropri- 
ate and entertaining address ; and that a copy be re- 
quested of him, to the end that the Committee of 
Arrangements may comply with President Grant's 
proclamation, relating to the preservation of histor- 
ical addresses. 

The audience then joined in singing America ; Rev. 
Dr. S. T. Seelye followed with a few remarks, and 
closed the exercises in the hall with the benediction. 

One prominent and very interesting feature of the 
occasion was, that the platform was filled with a large 
number of the elderly men of the town. 

After the close of the exercises in the hall," the 
Sabbath-schools were formed in procession, under the 
direction of Chief-Marshal Alvord, and after marching 
through the streets for a while, brought up in the 
Seminary grounds, in front of the well filled tables ; 
and proceeded to perform the part of the programme 
assigned to them, in a manner satisfactory to them- 
selves, and equally so to their friends. 

The fire-works in the evening, owing to signs of 
rain, began a full hour earlier than was expected, and 



Vlll INTRODUCTORY. 

many of the best pieces were lost to the crowd. A 
slight shower coming up about that time, the large 
concourse gathered sought their homes, being a little 
disappointed, perhaps, at this part of the day's pro- 
ceedings, but, on the whole, well satisfied with the 
celebration of the Centennial Fourth. 



Historical Address, 



Two hundred and eleven years ago, December lo, 
1664, the town of Northampton granted John Webb 
a piece of land " at Pascommuck," to build a house 
upon. The house he is supposed to have built the 
following Spring ; and it was the first civilized habi- 
tation within the borders of our town. It stood near 
the residence of the late Augustus Clapp, in Nasha- 
wannuck. It was on a little rise of ground, near the 
bank of the river, at the westernmost bend of the 
" old bed," which was then the only channel. This 
was ten years after the actual settlement of North- 
ampton, in 1654. 

The purchase of the tract of land known as Nono- 
tuck, from the aboriginal owners thereof, was made 
in 1653. Upon May 6th of that year, certain inhabi- 
tants of Windsor, Hartford and other places, twenty- 
four in number, petitioned the General Court for lib- 
erty " to plant, possess and inhabit the place, being 
on the Conetiquot river, above Springfield, called Non- 
otuck." They represented that they knew the place 
to be " desirable to erect a town in, for the further- 
ance of the public weal, by providing corn and rais- 
ing cattle, not only for their own, but likewise for the 
good of others — the propagating of the Gospel — the 



2, NONOTUCK ITS PURCHASE AND BOUNDARIES. 

place promising, in an ordinary way of God's provi- 
dence, a comfortable subsistence, whereby people may 
live, and attend upon God in his holy ordinances 
"without distraction." This petition was aided by 
three of the principal men of Springfield, John 
Pyncheon, Elizur Holyoke, and Samuel Chapin, who, 
upon the granting of the petition. May 18, 1653, were 
appointed commissioners to lay out Nonotuck into 
two plantations, of which the petitioners were to 
have one. The other, subsequently laid out, was east 
of the river. 

The first public document on record in Northamp- 
ton, in the words " not molesting Indians, nor de- 
priving them of their just rights and property, with- 
out allowance to their satisfaction," recognizes the 
principle upon which our fathers proceeded in effect- 
ing settlement. Accordingly, September 24, 1653, 
their representative, John Pyncheon, effected a pur- 
chase of this region, at Springfield. Conveyance of 
title was made by six prominent Indians, sachems of 
the Norwottuck tribe and others, two of whom appear 
as owners of land east of the river. 

The tract of land purchased, according to Sylvester 
Judd's version of the deed, *" Extended from the brook 
below Munhan, called Shankwonk, below Asahel Ly- 
man's," {i e. the brook crossing the highway, not far 
above Smith's ferry,) " up by the Quinetticott, to the 
brook or gutter below Capawonk, called Masquomp, 
(now Half-way brook,) and out into the woods westerly 
nine miles." Hoyt and others make it to have ex- 
tended downward to the Falls on the Connecticut at 
South Hadley. The price paid was 100 fathom of 
wampum, 10 coats, and the plowing of 16 acres of land 

*History of Hadley, page 114. 



FURTHER PURCHASES. 3 

on the east side of the river. A fathom of wampnm, 
of white beads, was worth five shilhngs, and of bhxck 
beads ten shiHino-s. 

The settlement was effected the following Spring, 
though only a third of the original petitioners are 
thought to have become actual settlers. One of 
these was John Webb, who, ten years after, made the 
first settlement within the present limits of East- 
hampton. 

July 20, 1G57, the settlers bought the South 
meadow in Hatfield, called by the Indians Capawonk, 
of Sachem Umpanchala, otherwise Womscom or Lam- 
panoho, for fifty shillings, which was received from 
'" John Webb of Northampton," who no doubt acted 
as the town's agent. 

Being desirous of encouraging a settlement higher 
up the river, between them and the northern wilder- 
ness, — a motive which had actuated Springfield in fa- 
voring our settlement — they sold this tract the next 
year, October 17, 1658, to certain Hartford men who 
proposed to settle across the river from Northampton, 
for <£10, to be paid in wheat and peas. They stipu- 
lated, among other things, that settlement should be 
begun by May, 1659, and that they should settle on 
both sides of the river. Some of the conditions of 
sale were not complied with, and March 11, 1659, we 
find John Webb and two others, in behalf of North- 
ampton, agreeing with three representatives of the 
new plantation, to sell Capawonk meadow for £30 
sterling, to be paid in wheat and peas delivered in 
Hartford. This agreement is the first instrument re- 
corded in the book of deeds in Springfield. The 
deed, for some reason, was not given till January 22, 
1663. 



4 HADLET-^OTIIERWISE NORWOTTUCK. 

These new settlers bought of the Indians the land 
stretching nine miles east of the river, and extending 
from Mount Holyoke to Mount Toby. Also, at a later 
date, a tract lying along the west bank of the river, 
above Capawonk, running back nine miles. Pynch- 
eon, who, with Holyoke and Chapin of Springfield, 
and William Holton and Richard Lyman of North- 
ampton, was appointed to lay out the new plantation, 
negotiated these purchases, as he was an influential 
man and a great trader. This second settlement in 
old Nonotuck was at first called Newtown or Norwot- 
tuck; but at its incorporation. May 22, 16G1, it took 
the name Hadley. 

These accounts of the purchase of Indian lands 
make it clear that our fathers did no injustice to the 
natives. It is said that they welcomed the English, 
and gladly sold their lands, knowing well to what use 
the English were accustomed to put them. Though 
the price received was small, it was all they de- 
manded, and all the lands were worth, considering the 
hardships, risks and costs to be endured, in effecting 
settlement in a wilderness, and reducing the land to 
cultivation. And then the Indians, in reality, surren- 
dered little which was of value to themselves. It 
was understood that they might still dwell, hunt, and 
fish, within the territory sold. Two of the deeds ex- 
pressly permit them to set up their wigwams and get 
fire-wood from the commons. They had little use 
for the land for other purposes than these. " It may 
well be doubted," says Sylvester Judd, " whether all 
the Indian corn fields in the valley, from Holyoke and 
Tom on the south, to Toby and Sugar Loaf on the 
north, contained more than seventy acres." In Had- 
ley one corn field of sixteen acres, more or less, was 



SETTLEMENT OF EASTHAMPTON. 6 

expressly exempted from sale. They lost little, 
therefore, for the men continued to hunt and fish, 
and the women to raise corn, perhaps even to better 
advantage, upon shares, on well plowed lands, than 
ever before. "It would be difficult, perhaps," says 
Mr. Judd, '' to tell why the purchase of Indian lands 
in Pennsylvania, by William Penn, is more worthy of 
renown than the purchase of Indian lands in North- 
ampton and Hadley, by John Pyncheon, twenty years 
before." The principal chiefs of the Norwottucks, 
north of Mounts Tom and Holyoke, at the period of 
settlement, were Chickwallop, Umpanchala and Quon- 
quont, whose names are prominent in the early deeds. 

The first white resident w^ithin the limits of East- 
hampton, as has been shown, was John Webb, who 
seems to have been an honored citizen of our mother 
town. His land w^as granted December 13, 1664, 
and settlement made, probably, in the ensu'ing Spring. 
At what time he died is uncertain. Robert Danks, 
an early resident of Northampton, married his widow, 
and, with two sons of Webb, lived in Nashawannuck 
many years. Descendants of Webb were there for 
seventy-five years. 

The first bridge over the Manhan river w^as voted 
in 1668, and most likely was near the house of John 
Webb, and not far from where the meadow road now 
crosses the same stream. Over this the settlers con- 
veyed such of their produce as they did not require 
for home consumption. Their taxes were payable 
first at Charlestown, and afterwards at Boston, in 
wheat. This was conveyed to Hartford in carts and 
wagons, and thence shipped to Boston. The cost of 
shipping from Hartford, in at least one recorded in- 
stance, consumed one-third of the cargo. 



b PASCOMMTJCK. 

Just across the Manhan from the homestead of 
John Webb, at the foot of the mountain, is a beauti- 
ful plateau, overlooking the meadows, and Northamp- 
ton beyond. It is at the point where now the road 
leading up the mountain which bears up the ancient 
name of this section, — Nonotuck — takes its departure 
from the public highway. This was the location of 
the next residences within our limits, and the hamlet 
planted here bore the Indian name Pascommuck. 
The settlers were five in number, Moses Hutchin- 
son, John Searle, Benoni Jones, Samuel and Beajamin 
Janes, with their families. The town granted them 
their home lots in 1699. 

They were not, however, destined to remain long 
in undisturbed possession of their homes. On the 
24th of May, 1704, early in the morning, a party of 
non-resident Indians, passing this way, came down 
from the mountain and fell upon the hamlet so sud- 
denly, and so impetuously, that defence, though at- 
tempted, was impossible. Nineteen persons, nine of 
the name of sJanes, were slain, either here, or shortly 
after capture. Benjamin Janes escaped from his cap- 
tors, and, rowing to Northampton across the flooded 
meadows, gave the alarm. A troop of cavalry, under 
Capt. John Taylor, speedily started in pursuit, who 
encountered the Indians, but with no other result 
than the death of nearly all the captives, and of Cap- 
tain Taylor himself. Another troop afterwards came 
up from the lower settlements to punish the savages, 
but were unsuccessful. More than ten years elapsed 
before this ruin was repaired, but at length other per- 
sons came in to take the places of the slain, some of 
them being children of the slain. 

Twenty-five years before the settlement at Pascom- 



BARTLETT S MILLS. 7 

niQck, or in 1674, Northampton gave " David Wilton, 
Meclacl Pumry, and Joseph Taylor, liberty to erect a 
saw-mill on the brook, on the right hand of the cart- 
way going over Manhan river." Twelve years later, 
(1686-7) they voted Samuel Bartlett liberty to set up 
a corn-mill, ^' on the falls below the cart- way on the 
river." The cart- way was just above our covered 
bridge at the foot of Meeting House hill. These 
mills were doubtless built soon after, though their 
owners did not effect a residence here. Samuel Bart- 
lett gave the corn-mill to his son Joseph in 1705, who 
made the first permanent settlement in the region of 
the present village, probably as early as 1725 or 30. 
His house he kept open for the accommodation of 
travelers for twenty years. His nephew, Jonathan 
Clapp, ancestor of all the Clapps among us, lived with 
him and succeeded to the greater portion of his es- 
tate, and to his business. About the same time at 
which Landlord Joseph Bartlett built his house, his 
brother David settled some forty rods westerly from 
the present residence of Julius Pomeroy, and after 
him his son lived there till near or quite the time of 
the Revolution. Between the homes of the Bartlett 
brothers was the home of four brothers named Wait, 
not far from where R. C. Dresser now lives. 

Twenty years later. May 28, 1745, Deacon Stephen 
Wright and Benjamin Lyman, bought of Northamp- 
ton the upper School meadow, a tract of eighty acres 
of land, lying on both sides of the river above the 
cart-way, which the town had set apart for the sup- 
port of schools.* Deacon Wright settled where Sam- 
uel Hurlburt lives, and Mr. Lyman where Joel Bassett 
lives. They were the ancestors of the Wrights and 

* The original deed may be seen in the museum. 



b POMEROY S MEADOW PARK HILL THE PLAIN. 

Lymans of Easthampton, and, until recently, most of 
their lands have been held by descendants. 

Not far from 1732, Samuel and Eldad Pomeroy, 
settled upon what is now the homestead of Dea. E. 
W. Hannum and son. Caleb, son of Samuel, soon af- 
ter built near the late residence of A. L. Strong. In 
1742, the Pomeroys entered a protest to the General 
Court, against being set off from Northampton with 
the then recent settlers in what is now Southampton, 
who were moving for separation, and with whom they 
had had no connection. In their address, they state 
that they had improved their lands, and paid taxes 
upon them for forty or fifty years. This would seem 
to show that their land came under cultivation not 
later than 1700. They were, afterwards, at their 
own request, received into the new society at South- 
ampton. 

As early as 1750, Josiah Phelps established him- 
self upon Park hill, upon the place, until lately, for 
many years occupied by J. Eockwell Wright. About 
1760 John and Eleazer Hannum settled upon the 
plateau now occupied by J. Milton and Edwin Han- 
num. 

The first settler upon the plain upon which our 
village stands, was Serg. Ebenezer Corse, who built a 
house where Spencer Clapp formerly lived, and cut his 
road for a mile through the forest to this point. He 
was followed soon after by Stephen Wright, Jr., and 
Benjamin Lyman, Jr., sons of the purchasers of 
School meadow, and also by Benjamin and Aaron 
Clapp, the posterity of all of whom, John and Luther 
L. Wright, Ansel B. Lyman, William N. Clapp and 
son, and James H. Lyman, still occupy their ancestral 
seats. The first settlement in the south-east part of 



SETTLEMENT OF SOUTHAMPTON. 9 

the town was effected by Israel Henclrick, about a 
hundred years since. 

The first settlers of Southampton were mostly from 
Northampton, sons of men with large families, "vvho 
wished to find homes for their children. The first 
meeting of those proposing to effect a settlement' 
there, of which there is any record, was held January 
31, 1730. A committee of Northampton citizens di- 
vided the lands among them. The first recorded 
notice of this settlement, afterwards called "the sec- 
ond precinct," was in the account of a meeting held 
December 22, 1732, when a committee was chosen 
" to lay out a highway, over the branch of Manhan 
river, at or near Pomeroy's meadow, or some other 
suitable and convenient place, so as to accommodate 
the new settlement." In 1732, two houses were 
erected there, and in 1733, fourteen ; and shortly af- 
ter fourteen more. This, in brief, was the origin of 
Southampton. It was established by the General 
Court as the second precinct of Northampton, July 
23, 1741, on petition of thirty-five freeholders, one of 
whom was Eleazer Hannum of our town. They had 
preaching from the first, whenever they could secure 
it. In 1737, measures were taken to secure a house 
of worship, which was begun but not completed for 
several years. The first pastor. Rev. Jonathan Judd, 
was ordained June 8, 1743. Serg. Ebenezer Corse, 
before mentioned, was the only one who voted 
against Mr. Judd's settlement, and he afterwards be- 
came a decided supporter of the new minister. In 
1753, they appointed a committee "to dignify the 
seats and pews." The relative dignity of citizens 
was determined by a combination of age and prop- 
erty, one year in age being equal to £10 in property. 



10 PRE-REVOLUTIONARY TROUBLES. 

For more than a century after Webb's settlement 
in Nashawannuck, those who resided within our bor- 
ders had their civil and ecclesiastical relations with 
North or Southampton. They shared with those 
towns the perils of Indian hostilities ; they joined 
'with them in the support of the Gospel. Side by 
side they marched with British soldiers in the early 
French and Indian wars. They endured toil and pri- 
vation, and some of them shed their blood, on the 
fields about Lake George, Louisburg and elsewhere. 
The names of those soldiers are mostly forgotten, and 
the record of their individual service, saving in ex- 
ceptional cases, has perished. But their heroism and 
valor helped to procure this country for the use of an 
English speaking and liberty loving race. Along 
with the heroes of later wars, they should be awarded 
honored places in the regard of those who, in this 
and succeeding generations, enjoy the priceless herit- 
age won by their valor. 

Excepting the massacre already referred to at Pas- 
commuck, no record has come to us of the death of 
any one, at the hands of the Indians, within our bor- 
ders, excepting Nathaniel Edwards of Northampton, 
wdio was shot and scalped in 1724, near the brook 
which crosses the highway, just south of the residence 
of Samuel Phelps. 

Long before this, the Norwottuck Indians, of whom 
the lands were bought, had ceased to make Nonotuck 
their home. For twenty years after their sale of the 
lands, they dwelt here, in perfect peace with the set- 
tlers. 

In 1664, they were allowed to build a fort upon 
certain conditions, such as that they should not har- 
bor hostile Indians, nor violate the Sabbath by bear- 



DEPAKTURE OF THE NORWOTTUCKS. 11 

ing burdens upon it. This fort was probably the one 
on Fort hill, near its north-east point, overlooking the 
meadows, east of the present South street in North- 
ampton. Mr. Judd says that the forts of the Norwot- 
tucks were generally built upon a bluff, or high bank, 
projecting into a valley or intervale, near a stream. 
They also had a fort on Fort plain, the plateau in the 
rear of our East street school-house, overlooking the 
meadows of the Manhan and Connecticut. Here was 
the last residence of Indians within the limits of East- 
hampton. Their last place of habitation within Non- 
otuck was on another Fort plain, about half way from 
Northampton to Hatfield, where they had a fort on 
the high bank of the Connecticut, overlooking Had- 
ley Great meadow. 

In 1675, they showed evident signs of hostility. 
This disposition was so marked, that the settlers de- 
termined to disarm them, peaceably if possible, but to 
disarm them at all events. Their negotiations failed, 
and they planned a surprise for the night succeeding 
August 24, 1675. But the Indians, anticipating the 
attempt, had fled, having killed an old sachem who 
would not go. Pursuit of them resulted in an en- 
counter, in which our troops lost nine .men. One of 
the Indian women afterwards claimed that they lost 
twenty-six, though Mr. Judd doubts so large a loss. 
At all events, they retired up the valley and never 
returned to dwell. One, at least, of their women was 
friendly to the last, and warned " good wife Wright " 
to get into the town with her children, and said she 
dared not to tell the news, for her tribe would then 
cut off her head. No doubt some of them, the women 
especially, left their ancestral home in fair Nonotuck 
with heavy hearts. Mr. Judd estimates that, at this 



12 ANXIETY FROM THE INDIANS. 

time, this clan or tribe numbered two hundred or 
more. 

During this period the people were necessarily 
on the watch against the forces of Philip, and main- 
tained, during the war, a permanent guard, which, in 
1676, two hundred years ago, numbered fifty. In 
the famous Turners Falls fight, in which our forces 
were under command of Captain Turner, and in 
which a decisive blow was struck against Philip, our 
Northampton soldiers were under command of En- 
sign John Lyman ; and rendered efficient service. 

But though no Indians resided in Nonotuck after 
the close of Philip's war, yet there were periods when 
the people were, with good reason, seriously appre- 
hensive of an attack ; and when families lay down at 
night not knowing what horror would befall them be- 
fore the dawn ; when in going to the field or town a 
weapon of war was a necessary appurtenance ; and 
when the mother, at home with the children, felt the 
need of vigilant watch against a surprise. Especially 
does this appear to have been the case in the years 
1745-6-7 ; for at this time watch houses were built, 
and a dwelhng in each hamlet fortified. The houses 
of Joseph Bartlett at the mills, Samuel Janes at Pas- 
commuck, and Maj. Jonathan Clapp on the North- 
ampton road, were thus fortified. 

During all these years, the population of this re- 
gion was enlarging ; new homesteads were being 
brought under cultivation ; and the people were es- 
tablishing a center for themselves Occasional preach- 
ing services were enjoyed at the house of Landlord 
Bartlett ; and they at length felt that their numbers 
and property would warrant a separate town and 
church organization. Accordingly, in March, 1773, 



eastiiampton's separation. 13 

they began to press the matter of separation, repre- 
senting their desire that they might be in such cir- 
cumstances, that, with Httle clifticulty, they could 
meet and transact business among themselves; but 
more especial Ij^ that with greater convenience, and 
hopefully, with greater profit to themselves and their 
families, they might attend on public worship, and on 
the ordinances of God's sanctuary. The religious 
motive was thus uppermost in the minds of our fa- 
thers in seeking to build a new township. 

Northampton acquiesced in their request ; voted 
them £300 for religious uses ; and directed its repre- 
sentative in General Court to forward their petition. 
But the strenuous opposition of Southampton post- 
poned the final act till after the Revolution. Again 
in 1781-2, the matter was agitated, and a Northamp- 
ton committee reported that *' the petitioners with 
their lands, together with those from Southampton 
who wished to join them, would make a respectable 
parish or town, and be fully sufficient to support the 
charges incident thereto." They recommended that 
their petition be granted, and the town adopted the 
recommendation, voting to give tlie new town one- 
eighth the public lands and other priaperty. The act 
of incorporation as a district was not granted till 
1785. 

The first district meeting was held at the house of 
Capt. Joseph Clapp, w^iich house is still standing, just 
north of the covered bridge. The warrant was di- 
rected to Benjamin Lyman as " one of the principal 
inhabitants," and he was moderator of the meeting, 
which chose Dea. Stephen Wright, Capt. Philip Clark, 
and Eleazer Hannum, selectmen. 

Before this time, in anticipation of incorporation, 



14 CHURCH ORGANIZATION. 

certain individuals made preparation to build a house 
of worship ; and, in the Spring of 1785, a frame was 
erected. At the first business meeting of the district, 
true to their declared religious purpose, the citizens 
voted to provide a place of worship, taking for that 
purpose the frame already erected, and paying its 
owners for the same. 

November 17, 1785, the first church was organized, 
also at the house of Capt. Joseph Clapp. The mem- 
bership of the church was seventy- two, of whom 
forty-six were from the church in Northampton, and 
twenty-six from that in Southampton. 

Of this meeting Stephen Wright was moderator, 
and Capt. Philip Clark clerk, who, with Benjamin 
Lyman, were chosen deacons. Captain Clark declined 
filling this office, and two years later Obadiah Janes 
wg-s chosen to it. Revs. Solomon Williams and Jona- 
than Judd, from whose churches the members of the 
new church had come, were present at the organiza- 
tion, as were Revs. Joseph Strong and Enoch Hale. 

April 6, 1789, the church called Rev. Payson Wil- 
liston to become their pastor. Accepting the call, he 
was ordained August loth, the sermon upon the occa- 
sion being preached by Rev. Noah Williston, and the 
consecrating prayer being offered by Rev. Richard S. 
Storrs. 

That ordination was an event heavily freighted 
with the future of the town. It gave us the man 
who was the people's religious teacher for forty-four 
years, and their revered and honored father for 
twenty more. In his loins as yet, but there on that 
day, by anticipation, was also the man who gave 
Easthampton its manufacturing industries, and its 
distinguished position as an educational center. That 



WAR OF THE REYOLUTION-. 15 

day gave WilHston, with all that that honored name 
involves, to Easthampton. It Avas a great day for 
Easthampton, was it not ? August 13, 1789. 

At the time of its organization the town is said to 
have contained about sixty-live families ; in all, some 
four hundred inhabitants. The population in 1790 
was four hundred and fifty-seven. 

Thus, in outline, I have sketched the beginnings of 
our goodly town ; its actual beginnings in settlement, 
together with the antecedent settlement of the 
mother town ; its municipal beginnings in incorpora- 
tion ; its ecclesiastical beginnings in church organiza- 
tion. If you would know its territorial beginnings, 
you must ask the geologist, who, from the rocks, 
and the soils, and the configuration of the region, 
has read something of the physical history of these 
stately ranges, and smiling slopes, and beauteous 
intervales. The result of the conflicts and strug- 
gles of nature's mighty forces, forms the basis of 
that which, having been garnished by man's indus- 
trious hand, constitutes as fair a landscape as any on 
which the eye can rest. 

But I must hasten to speak of that which is more 
germane to this day, the war of the Revolution and 
the part our fathers played. 

THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION, 

In its inception and early intention, was not a war 
for the acquisition of new privileges, but simply for 
the maintenance of the old and time honored. Al- 
though nominally colonists of Great Britain, our peo- 
ple, from the beginning, had enjoyed, almost com- 
pletely, the benefits of home rule. They had scarcely 
been compelled to feel the power of the mother gov- 



16 THE REVOLUTION NOT AN INNOVATION. 

ernment at all. By what Burke calls " the wise 
neglect " of Great Britain, we had been left to the 
government of our own affairs. The people spoke 
their minds in the town meetings, and sent their rep- 
resentatives to General Court to record their will, 
and to bring it into harmony with the will of their 
sister townships. The towns managed their own 
ecclesiastical, educational, and military affairs ; took 
part in the execution of justice through the local po- 
lice and jurors whom they chose ; levied taxes for these 
and other purposes; and discussed, in open meeting, 
questions relating to matters of public interest. The 
records of these town meetings are full of interest, 
and go far to show where the spirit of patriotism was 
fired to the requisite point. They are, indeed, the 
wonder and admiration of students of political philos- 
ophy, everywhere. 

In matters of public as well as of municipal interest, 
the people were their own masters. The representa- 
tive bodies which they elected appointed the govern- 
or's council, and directed our militia, judicial, and 
revenue system. No tax had ever been levied upon 
us by imperial authority. The people themselves, 
had thus become trained to self government, to which 
they had shown themselves entirely competent. 

Now the so-called Revolution, in its beginning, was 
the people's determination to maintain possession of 
this inheritance which they had received from their 
ancestors, and to perpetuate the system which had 
been in force for a century and more. They were, 
in short, not innovators, but conservators. 

The growth and prosperity of the colonies, how- 
ever, excited the jealousy of the mother country; and 
a system of taxation was resolved upon, in order that 



STAMP ACT PORT BILL. 17 

the colonies might become a direct source of rev- 
enue. 

In 1765, the odious Stamp Act was passed; but was 
resisted by our people so strenuously, that it was re- 
pealed. Parliament, however, nullified the effect of 
the repeal, by reasserting the principle that they had a 
right, both to tax the colonies, and to legislate for them 
in all cases whatever. This assertion alarmed the 
colonies, and put them in the attitude of resistance. 
For they held dear the right of legislation for them- 
selves; and our own Major Hawley but voiced the 
public sentiment, when he openly declared in General 
Court, "" that he knew not how Parliament could ever 
have acquired a right to legislate over the colonies." 
Then came the tea tax, which the people everywhere 
met by the resolve to drink no tea. 

The oppressive Boston Port Bill, which followed, 
was met by the " solemn league and covenant " to 
use no English goods during the continuance of the 
blockade; a resolution which other open ports pat- 
riotically shared. It was requested that all the peo- 
ple of the province should unite in this resolution to 
use no imported goods. Governor Gage issued a 
proclamation forbidding the people to subscribe to the 
agreement ; and threatening, if they did so, to trans- 
port them to England to be tried for treason. An 
* entry in the Belchertown records of this period, is of 
interest, as showing the effect of the threat upon the 
people of this region. Chose ten men " to inspect 
the town, and see that there is not any goods exposed 
to sale in Belchertown, that were imported after the 
1st day of December last." 

After the Port Bill came the Eestraining Acts, the 
design of which was to exclude us from the coast fish- 



18 REGULATION ACTS OF 1774. 

eries. The royal Governors, Bernard, Hutchinson, and 
Gage, had proceeded on the assumption that the leg- 
islature of Massachusetts must act in entire subordi- 
nation to the administration in England ; and the evi- 
dent determination of Gage to insist upon it, intensi- 
fied the popular discontent. The military occupation 
of the province, one incident of which had been the 
Boston Massacre, increased the alarm. 

But the measures which, of all others, if success- 
ful, would have been fatal to home rule, and the de- 
struction of the inherited popular liberty, were what 
are known as the " Regulation Acts of 1774." These 
ordained that the governor's council, as well as him- 
self, should be chosen by the king, who also was to 
hold in his hands the superior judges. Furthermore 
the inferior judges, and the sheriffs, were made de- 
pendent upon the will of the governor, — the king's 
creature ; while to the sheriffs, creatures of the gov- 
ernor, was entrusted the selection of jurors. Thus 
almost all officers were to be made creatures of the 
royal will. Besides, England itself proposed to take 
custody of the more important cases at law, trans- 
porting alleged offenders for trial. But the heaviest 
blow at our liberties, which these acts proposed, was 
the destruction of the town meeting, as a theatre for 
the expression of opinion and public discussion. It 
was decreed that no meetings should be held, saving 
for the election of municipal officers, except by ex- 
press consent of the royal governor ; and that only 
such matters as he allowed should be discussed. 

The people saw that their ancient liberties were 
departing, and that time honored customs were being 
disallowed more and more ; and they determined upon 
resistance. " We broke no chain ;" said Mr. Dana in 



RESISTANCE. 19 

his oration at the Lexington Centennial, "we pre- 
pared to strike down any hand that might attempt to 
lay one upon us. There was not one institution, law, 
or custom, political or social, from the mountain top 
to the sea-shore, which we cared to change. We 
were then content to go on as parts of the British 
empire, holding that slack and easy allegiance we al- 
ways held, on the old terms of self-government and 
home rule." But that was not to be allowed, and 
our people determined »to resist encroachments. Al- 
ready, even before these last acts subversive of the 
chartered rights of the province, our honored towns- 
man, Major Hawley, at that time a leading member 
of the colonial assembly, had become convinced of the 
necessity for action ; and had publicly declared that, 
" if the people would maintain their rights and liber- 
ties, they must fight for them." 

For the sake of concert of action and public utter- 
ance, meetings of the people were everywhere held. 
Those assembling put themselves in peril ; for in so 
doing they set the new law at defiance. Berkshire 
held a Congress at Stockbridge, and took a noble and 
patriotic stand in regard to the evils that threatened 
our liberties. Among their recommendations was 
one that the 14th of July should be observed as a day 
of fasting and prayer, " to implore the Divine assist- 
ance that He would interpose and in mercy avert those 
evils with which we are threatened." A Pittsfield 
town meeting declared that they viewed it of the 
greatest importance to the well being of the province, 
that the people of it " utterly refuse the least submission 
to the said acts, and, on no consideration to counte- 
nance the taking pZace of those acts among us, hut re- 
sist them to the last extremity." 



20 COUNTY CONVENTION. 

To this period belongs an unsigned paper found 
among the documents of Col. Elisha Porter of Had- 
ley, to which I have been kindly allowed access. 
" Voted, that we will never take, hold, exercise, or 
execute, any commission, office, or employment what- 
ever, under, by virtue of, or in any manner derived 
from, any authority pretended, or attempted to be 
given, by a late act of the British Parliament, entitled 
' An Act for the Better Regulating of the Govern- 
ment of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New 
England ; ' and that we will heartily concur with the 
people of this county and province, in using our ut- 
most endeavors to maintain, secure, and defend, the 
charter, and constitutional rights of the people of this 
province ; and transmit them inviolate to posterity." 

I hazard the opinion that this was a copy, or per- 
haps first draft, of a vote passed in a Had ley town 
meeting, which sent delegates to a convention of 
Hampshire County, held in Northampton, September 
22 and 23, 1774, " to consult upon measures to be 
taken in this time of general distress in the province, 
occasioned by the late attacks of the British ministry 
upon the constitution of said province." 

The president of this convention was Timothy Dan- 
ielson of Brimfield, who had just had the honor, with 
thirteen others, among them John Adams and James 
Bowdoin,to be rejected from the council by Governor 
Gage, after an election by the General Court ; and 
who, with others, is mentioned by Bradford, after the 
Otises, father and son, Samuel Adams, and Major 
Hawley, as among the leaders in opposing the arbi- 
trary measures of the British ministry. 

This convention passed, with great unanimity, a 
series of resolutions, in which they declared that the 



FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. 21 

county did not intend to withdraw from the king ; but 
that the charter of the province ought to be kept in- 
violate. The resolutions also characterized the acts 
of the British Parliament as " subversive," and the 
acts of Governor Gage, the rightfulness of whose au- 
thority they doubted, as destructive of their rights ; 
declared the holding of a Provincial Congress at Con- 
cord to be necessary, as well as the holding of town 
meetings ; and exhorted the people to be diligent to 
acquaint themselves with the military art, under the 
direction of such persons as they might choose, and 
to furnish themselves with arms and ammunition. 
Conventions, with similar results, were held in most 
of the other counties in the State. Thus, while the 
people of our county declared their wish to be loyal 
to their sovereign, they also showed their determina- 
tion to maintain their vested and ancestral rights, 
even if, as Hawley had declared and as seemed likely, 
a resort to arms must be taken. 

The necessity of a Provincial Congress, which the 
Convention declared, arose, in part, from the fact that 
the General Court had not been held for some time ; 
and that, if held, it was liable to be prorogued at any 
time, by the governor. Delegates, having been ap- 
pointed, assembled in Salem in October, 1774 ; chose 
John Hancock president ; and adjourned to Concord. 

Our members of that Congress were Dea. Elias Ly- 
man of Southampton, and Col. Seth Pomeroy of 
Northampton, a veteran who had served under Pep- 
perell at the reduction of Louisburg. The latter was 
a member of the committee who were directed to pre- 
pare an address to Governor Gage, and one of three 
general officers who were chosen to command the 
military of tile province. Another of the three was 



22 PEEPAEATIONS FOR RESISTANCE. 

Colonel Ward, who afterwards held general command 
at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and who 
was made one of the first four major-generals by the 
Continental Congress. The third was Colonel Thomas 
who held command at Roxbury on that memorable 
day. Colonel Thomas, Colonel Pomeroy, and Colonel 
Heath, also of our colony, were three of the first eight 
brigadier-generals of the Continental army. 

This first Provincial Congress also appointed a com- 
mittee of safety with executive powers. They also 
directed municipal tax officers not to pay money to 
the treasurer of the province, who was under the in- 
fluence of the governor ; but to Henry Gardner, Esq., 
whom they constituted receiver-general. Ours was 
the first town to respond, paying to Treasurer Gard- 
ner, by the hand of Major Hawley, the first money he 
had received. At this time, Belchertown " voted by a 
great majority, to defend the constables, both in col- 
lecting their taxes, (as some threaten in this day of 
calamity, now all law is stopped and all executive 
authority is put down,) and in paying over the money 
when collected, to said Gardner." 

The standing committee appointed by the Provin- 
cial Congress, many of whom were military officers, 
were directed to ascertain the quantity of arms, can- 
non, and gunpowder in the province, and to encour- 
age military discipline among the citizens. Militia 
companies were speedily organized everywhere, and 
the people determined to be ready for armed resist- 
ance. Southampton showed its determination to be 
ready, by voting a sum of money for some person to 
instruct the Minute Men in learning the military art ; 
also to give the Minute Men ninepence a time, for six 
half days in learning military exercises. 



THE CONFLICT BEGUN. 23 

To the point of armed resistance, events Avere rap- 
idly tending. In February, 1775, Parliament declared 
Massachusetts in rebellion. The instructions of Dart- 
mouth to Governor Gage were, " The sovereignty of 
the king over the colonies requires a full and absolute 
submission." To this Gage replied, " The time for 
conciliation is over ; the forces must take the field ; " 
and he called for twenty thousand soldiers, to enforce 
the " subversive " acts of Parliament. Meetings of 
the people were still held, some of which Gage at- 
tempted to disperse by his soldiers. Massachusetts 
was under martial law. The spirit of the people was 
resolute and undaunted. The issue was fairly made 
up. Neither party would retire ; and on the 19th of 
April the collision came at Lexington and Concord ; 
with what results the country knows ; and all the 
world knows ; for the first shot was heard around the 
world. 

The Provincial Congress had adjourned to May; but 
its Committee of Safety, in pursuance of their execu- 
tive powers, at once convened it ; and it proceeded to 
adopt those measures which were " indispensable for 
the salvation of the country," one of which they 
deemed to be the raising of an army of thirty thou- 
sand men. They called for nearly half that number 
from this State. The committee had already, by cir- 
cular, urged the towns to lose no time in sending troops 
to Boston. " Our all is at stake;" they said, " every 
minute is infinitely precious." The appeal met a 
prompt response. Men flew at once to arms. A few 
brief hours, after receipt of the tidings, sufficed to 
start a company from many a town. Hampshire was 
not behind her sister counties. Col. Timothy Dan- 
ielson of Brimfield, whom Gage had recently rejected 



24 UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE. 

from sitting in the council, led a Hampshire regiment 
to meet Gage in arms. 

In this regiment was the Northampton company of 
sixty-nine men, commanded by Capt. Jonathan Allen, 
and Lieuts. Oliver Lyman and James Shepherd. The 
Southampton company of forty-six men, a few of 
whom were from Northampton and Norwich, was 
commanded by Capt. Lemuel Pomeroy, and Lieut. 
Jonathan Wales. Nine days after the battle, South- 
ampton voted " to do something to support our 
friends and brethren that have gone into the army." 
'^ Voted to pay for two-thirds of the provision that is 
provided for Capt. Lemuel Pomeroy's company." A 
committee of nine was chosen to collect the provision 
and dispatch it by team. 

Capt. Abel Thayer of Williamsburg could not wait 
for his company, and hastened for the scene of action 
with ten men, where he was joined by twenty-one 
others. The other towns were equally zealous. Col. 
Ruggles Woodbridge of South Hadley, commanded 
a Hampshire regiment, part of which served with 
the gallant Prescott within the redoubt at Bunker 
Hill. 

At midday, April 21, tidings reached Berkshire, and 
the next morning Colonel Patterson of Lenox was 
leading to Boston a regiment of northern Berkshire 
men, completely armed and equipped, and mostly 
uniformed. At Bunker Hill this regiment built and 
defended Fort No. 3 in Charlestown ; aided in the 
siege of Boston till its surrender ; proceeded thence to 
Canada via. New York ; retreated with the army to 
Ticonderoga where it fortified Mount Independence ; 
rejoined Washington in New Jersey ; crossed the Del- 
aware with him, and fought at Princeton and Tren- 



POMEROY AT BUNKER HILL. 25 

ton; and was in at Burgoyne's surrender; thus serving 
through the whole period most gallantly and with 
fearful losses. 

Bunker Hill convinced both parties that there was 
mettle in the provincials. This was a revelation to 
the British, and an inspiration to the continental lead- 
ers and people. One of the events of that glorious 
day is matter of local pride to us. Colonel Pomeroy, 
the veteran of eighty years, was early on the field, a 
volunteer like Warren, without a command. When 
the day was lost, he was among the last to leave the 
field ; and, waving his shattered musket, he sought, as 
Putnam was also doing, (but both of them in vain,) to 
rally the troops upon Bunker Hill, after they had 
been driven, without ammunition, from the entrench- 
ments on Breeds Hill. 

In July, 1775, the Continental Congress declared: 
" Our cause is just, our union is perfect, our internal 
resources are great, and we solemnly declare, before 
God and the world, that, exerting all the means and 
power which our Creator hath bestowed, we will em- 
ploy the arms, which our implacable enemies have com- 
pelled us to use, with unabating perseverance, and at 
every hazard, for the preservation of our liberties, 
being resolved to die free men, rather than live 
slaves. But we have not raised an army with the 
ambitious design of separating from Great Britain and 
establishing independent States." 

The logic of events is mightier than the purposes 
of men. Our people did not intend independence at 
that time. But God intended independence, and in 
his good time it came. " Whom the gods will de- 
stroy they first make mad." The king and his min- 
istry were madly bent upon subjugating the colonies, 
4 



26 INDEPENDElSrCE DAWNING. 

and they would hear to nothing short of it. They 
employed troops of hireling soldiers from the conti- 
nent. They sought to stir up the merciless savages 
of our forests to butcher and scalp us. By such 
measures they rapidly drove the people to resolve 
upon separation. 

No one can fail to notice the correspondence be- 
tween Independence and Emancipation, in this par- 
ticular. Neither was at first intended by the people, 
who were God's instruments in effecting them ; but 
the course of events, and a good Providence, drove us 
to both. 

Gradually the minds of the leaders of public opin- 
ion in Massachusetts, had been drawing toward the 
conclusion that the true course was to strike for abso- 
lute independence. When they urged the idea upon 
their brethren in the States to the southward, they 
did not always meet a favorable response. But the 
king and his ministry were their best allies, constantly 
furnishing them with fresh arguments. The transfer 
of the theater of war to New York and the South, was 
most opportune in preparing the way for this event. 
The act of Parliament interdicting trade with all the 
colonies, and making their goods upon the high seas 
liable to seizure and forfeit, and their persons to im- 
pressment, conspired, with other acts, to hasten the 
decision. 

All this while the clergy were lending their power- 
ful aid to the patriotic cause. The Provincial Con- 
gress urged that they should adapt their discourses to 
the times. This they were not slow to do. Their 
sermons breathed the spirit of freedom, and not sel- 
dom were powerful philippics against their oppressors. 
Their prayers were powerful with God in procuring 



PATRIOTISM OF THE CLERGY. 27 

his intervention, for they were men of faith. " We 
have from our pulpits," says Thatcher, " most fervent 
and pious effusions to the throne of divine grace, in 
behalf of our bleeding, afflicted country." At one of 
their annual gatherings, they sent an address to the 
Provincial Congress, expressing their " sympathy for 
the distresses of their much injured and oppressed 
country," and commending them and the army to the 
protection and guidance of God. After a fearless 
election sermon by Gad Hitchcock of Pembroke, from 
the words " when the righteous are in authority the 
people rejoice, but when the wicked bear rule the 
people mourn," Gage refused the request of the as- 
sembly to order a fast, alleging that " the request 
was only to give an orportunity for sedition to flow 
from the pulpit." The clergy, in turn, refused to 
stultify themselves, when he requested them to ren- 
der thanks to God that their liberties had been pre- 
served to them. Edward Everett says of them, that 
they " rendered services second to no others, in en- 
lightening and animating the popular mind on the 
great question at issue." 

During the intense excitement in Boston over the 
Stamp Act, Rev. Jonathan Mahew, pastor of the 
West church, denounced the act with unmitigated se- 
verity. Of Eev. Dr. Cooper of Brattle Street, pastor 
of Hancock, Warren, and many other leaders of the 
people, the London Political Register for 1780, says: 
'' though a minister of peace, and, to all outward ap- 
pearance, a meek and heavenly man, yet he was one 
of the chief instruments in stirring up the people to 
take arms." The annual election sermons of this pe- 
riod, preached before the Governor and General 
Court, are specimens of patriotic address, which em- 



28 PATRIOTISM OF THE CLERGY. 

phatically attest the courage, patriotism, and foresee- 
ing wisdom of the authors. 

Nor were they content with uttering their sentiments 
only in the pulpit. They were always present in the 
town meetings, aiding in the deliberations and decis- 
ions of the people. They encouraged the people as 
they went forth to do battle in the just cause. Em- 
erson of Concord, rallying and encouraging his parish- 
ioners in the gray dawn of that eventful morning 
which made Lexington and Concord household words, 
is a sample of our clergy of that day, not many of 
whom had his opportunity, though many of them had 
his spirit. They were ever ready as chaplains, or 
even as soldiers, to encounter the perils of the field. 

At this very time of which we are speaking. Rev. 
Robert Breck, for almost half a century pastor of the 
old First Church in Springfield, though sixty-two 
years of age, was with Colonel Porter's Hampshire 
regiment, amid the snows of Canada, with Arnold and 
Wooster, seeking in vain to retrieve the disaster of 
Montgomery's defeat and heroic death. Colonel 
Porter's diary repeatedly mentions him ; now preach- 
ing, though opportunities in that fearful campaign 
were rare ; now accompanying him to confer with 
other officers ; now leaving the regiment and going to 
spend a few days with the sick at Fort George at the 
head of Lake George. Long before the collision came 
Rev. Jonathan Judd of Southampton, pastor of some of 
our people, had shown his patriotism and readiness to 
share the sacrifices of his parishioners, by sending to 
them a communication in which he says, " if such a 
day of difficulty and distress should come." (referring 
to the operation of the Stamp Act,) " I will join with 
a committee of yours ; and they and I will reduce 



INDEPENDENCE FORECAST. 29 

the saLary as low as it can be reasonably thought 
proper." When the " day of difficulty and distress " 
came, the pastor was, no doubt, ready for his share of 
sacrifice. 

Several months before the declaration, Massachu- 
setts refused to recognize the king's authority, in the 
caption of public documents ; and these were accord- 
ingly issued in the name of the Government and the 
people. In May, 1776, the legislature passed an order 
calling on the people to express their opinion as to 
formal and entire separation from Great Britain ; and 
requesting them to instruct their representatives. 

The responses were not equivocal. The record of 
one of our towns shall serve as a sample. " At a full 
meeting of the inhabitants of Belchertown, held at 
the meeting-house, June 25, 1776, Dea. Aaron Ly- 
man was chosen moderator. The question was put 
by the moderator, whether, should the honorable 
Continental Congress, for the safety of the United 
Colonies in America, declare their independence of 
the kingdom of Great Britain, they, the said inhabi- 
tants, would solemnly engage, with their lives and 
fortunes, to support them in the measure ; and it 
passed in the affirmative by a universal vote." As 
did Belchertown so did Hampshire ; so did Massachu- 
setts, with substantial unanimity. They expressed 
their opinion ; they instructed their representatives ; 
but they, of course, referred the decision to the Con- 
tinental Congress. 

Many leading men wrote to the delegates in Con- 
gress, to urge the measure. And here the foresight 
and patriotism of Hampshire's great civilian. Major 
Hawley, shone with peculiar lustre. " Hawley," says 
Bancroft, *'was the first to discern through the dark- 



30 INDEPENDENCE DECLARED. 

ness, the coming national government of the republic, 
even while it still lay far below the horizon ; and he 
wrote from Watertown, where the General Court was 
held, to Samuel Adams : * The eyes of all this Conti- 
nent are fastened on your body, to see whether you 
act with firmness and intrepidity, with the spirit and 
dispatch which our situation calls for. It is time for 
your body to fix on periodical, annual elections ; nay, 
to form into a Parliament of two houses.' " 

Samuel Adams also received a message from James 
Warren. " The king's silly proclamation will put an 
end to petitioning. Movements worthy of your au- 
gust body are expected. A declaration of independ- 
ence and treaties with foreign powers." " This intel- 
ligence will make a plain path for you, though a dan- 
gerous one," wrote Abigail Adams to her husband, 
John Adams. " Let us separate. Let us renounce 
them." 

In an autograph letter of June 18th from Elbridge 
Gerry, one of our representatives in Congress, to 
Colonel Elisha Porter of Hadley, then in command of 
a Hampshire regiment in Canada, Gerry tells Porter : 
" Things are going on well in the colonies, in respect 
to independency, confederation, etc. ; and the ques- 
tion relative to the former is to be agitated in Con- 
gress the 1st of July." 

The eventful day came. All the colonies were 
represented. The delegates of each colony, except 
New York, had received full power of action. The 
debate upon the proposition was not concluded until 
the next day ; when the delegates from twelve col- 
onies, the thirteenth afterwards acceding, unanimous- 
ly voted that " these colonies are, and of right ought 
to be, free and independent States." 



MAJOR HAWLEY. 31 

Jefferson's draft of the declaration of the reasons 
for the act, and of the principles upon which they 
proposed to proceed, was debated and amended on 
the third, and was given to the world on the fourth. 
And so, for now a hundred years, we have stood be- 
fore the world, free and united States. Let us give 
God the glory. Vain would have been the help of 
man. Futile would have been the efforts of patriot 
statesmen and patriot soldiers, except that a just God 
stretched out his arm of might to defend a just cause ; 
and that a wise God gave foresight to the men, who, 
at that and in subsequent periods, have shaped our 
Government. 

MAJOR JOSEPH HAWLET. 

The civil history of the period requires, as its com- 
plement, the military history, even as the statesmen 
could by no means have given us independence, if the 
people had refused to fight. But before I sketch our 
part in these gloomy events, I would pay an additional 
word of passing tribute to Hampshire's great com- 
moner, our townsman, Maj. Joseph Hawley. He was, 
probably, the foremost lawyer of the Hampshire bar 
at this time, though Colonel Worthington of Spring- 
field, and Esquire Lyman of Suffield, (which was then 
in Hampshire,) were forensic foemen worthy of his 
steel. Through all this period he was a member of 
the General Court, and, as Hildreth says, the most in- 
fluential of all the country members. Few had more 
to do thai} he in shaping the policy of the colony ; in 
disputing with the royal governors their encroach- 
ments upon our rights ; or in bringing to pass the final 
issue. Upon the repeal of the Stamp Act, Parliament 
recommended, and Governor Bernard demanded in- 
demnity for the persons who had suffered in the riots 



32 MAJOR HAWLEY. 

consequent upon the attempted execution of the act. 
The matter was long pending, and frequently in hot 
dispute, in which the governor found Major Hawlej 
one of his staunchest opponents. The firm resolves 
in answer to the governor's ungracious speech, and 
the bill which finally settled the matter, were pre- 
pared by James Otis, Jr., Samuel Adams, Samuel 
Dexter, and Joseph Hawley, of whom Bradford re- 
marks : " They were the most active and influential 
patriots of that period." 

In May, 1770, Hutchinson, acting governor, ille- 
gally ordered the General Court to meet in Cam- 
bridge instead of Boston. This provoked strong oppo- 
sition, which was conducted especially by Samuel and 
John Adams, Major Hawley, and John Hancock. 

In June, 1772, it was proposed that the governor 
and the superior judges should be paid from the 
treasury of Great Britain. The effect of this meas- 
ure would have been to make all these officers 
indifferent to the voice of the representatives of the 
people. Of course it evoked hot opposition. The 
several messages to the governor from the house, 
upon this subject, were prepared by Major Hawley, 
Samuel Adams, John Hancock, W. Heath, and J. 
Warren. 

In January, 1773, in a long address to the General 
Court, Hutchinson advocated the absolute suprem- 
acy of Parliament, whose mandates, he claimed, the 
colonies " ought to obey without hesitation or in- 
quiry." Here again, in making up the reply of the 
house, the ability and resolution of Hawley were re- 
quired. With him, in the preparation of the reply, 
were associated Samuel Adams, John Hancock, J. 
Foster, and William Philips. With Samuel Adams he 



MAJOR HAWLEY. 33 

had most friendly relations, to whom his legal knowl- 
edge and sound sense were often of great service. 

When the Massachusetts delegates to the first Con- 
tinental Congress were on their way to Philadelphia, 
at Springfield they received from the Hampshire 
statesman a note, in which he said : " We must fight, 
if we can not otherwise rid ourselves of British taxa- 
tion. Fight we must finally, unless Britain retreats. 
Our salvation depends upon a persevering union. 
Every grievance of any one colony must be held as a 
grievance of the whole." 

Nor was it only in opposition to England that his 
services were called into requisition. As an example 
of other services, it may be mentioned that a stand- 
ing dispute of this period, between New York and 
ourselves, as to our boundary, was at length adjusted 
w4iile he was chairman of the commission on the part 
of our State. 

Bradford, in a brief description of the leaders of 
this period in our house of representatives, James 
Otis, Jr., Samuel Adams, Thomas Gushing, James 
Bowdoin, Samuel Dexter, Joseph Hawley, Thomas 
Saunders, and Joseph Gerrish, compares Hawley to 
Otis. ''Ardent, zealous, and eloquent; and, in his 
writings against the friends of arbitrary power, full 
of severity and sarcasm." Of him, Dr. Dwight says : 
" He was one of the ablest and most influential men 
in Massachusetts Bay, for a considerable period be- 
fore the Revolution — an event in which few men 
had more efficiency. He was a very able advocate. 
Many men have spoken with more eloquence and 
grace. I have never heard one speak with more force. 
His mind, like his eloquence, w^as grave, austere and 
powerful." The following good story is told of him 



d4 MAJOR HAWLEY. 

and his colleague in the General Court, Mr. Strong, 
(Probably Caleb Strong, then a young man just ris- 
ing of thirty years of age, who had recently been 
admitted to the bar, but who afterwards became no 
less eminent than Hawley ; serving twenty-five years 
as county attorney ; several times in the Governor's 
council and State senate ; member of the convention 
which framed the constitution ; one of our first United 
States senators, to which position he was re-elected ; 
and governor of the State eleven years, including the 
period of the second war with England, to which he, 
in common with the dominant party in the State, was 
opposed.) Hawley, it seems, was subject to seasons 
of despondency. On their return from the General 
Court at one time, he was deploring the poor prospect 
of success in the Revolutionary struggle. " We shall 
both be hung," said he to Mr. Strong. " No, Major 
Hawley," was the reply, "probably not more than 
forty will be hung ; we shall escape." " I'll have you 
to know," said Hawley, " that I am one of the 
first three," and the next day he made an eloquent 
and patriotic speech to his fellow-citizens. And he 
was not so far wrong as many men are in their esti- 
mate of themselves. 

At this time we were a part of Northampton, arid 
have no local Revolutionary history, except what we 
have in common with that town and Southampton. 
The history of this patriot and statesman is, there- 
fore, matter for just pride to us as a town ; for he 
was our representative, sent to the General Court 
by the votes of our ancestors, whom he served in 
that body repeatedly, preferring to remain there 
rather than to sit in the council, to which he was 
several times elected bv his colleas-ues. Not that 



INVASION OF CANADA. 35 

Nortliampton can monopolize his fame. His name 
adds luster to old Hampshire and the whole Com- 
monwealth; for he was one of the Revolutionary 
worthies. 

MILITARY HISTORY OF THE PERIOD. 

But the story of our people's share in the military 
history must needs be told; for, though sad,jt was 
patriotic, and was the inevitable sequel of the decis- 
ions of our civic leaders. The people were the ones 
who saw and felt the fighting. All honor to them, 
for their patient and heroic sacrifices. 

Between the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, 
Ticonderoga had been captured. It seemed to Haw- 
ley and others, that the government ought to organ- 
ize a force to hold the defensible positions about the 
lower Champlain, if nothing more ; and they accord- 
ingly urged the measure. It was, on the whole, 
judged expedient to push northward rather than re- 
main at lower Champlain ; and thus to secure Canada 
if possible. Montgomery, one of the ablest of our gen- 
erals, was placed in charge ; and met victory till he 
reached Quebec. Here everything was against him. 
To co-operate with him, Washington had detached a 
portion of his own force about Boston, and sent them, 
under Arnold, by way of the Kennebec, and through 
the forests of Maine. Lemuel Bates and others from 
Southampton belonged to this expedition. One of 
Arnold's captains was a Hampshire man, Elihu Ly- 
man, brother of Captain Josiah Lyman of Belcher- 
town, of whom mention will soon be made. The 
march of Arnold was attended with incredible hard- 
ships, in the form of hunger, fatigue and cold, almost 
beyond endurance. Among the troops were some 



36 TROOPS SENT TO QUEBEC. 

sailors, who became so ungovernable, that Captain, 
afterwards Major, Lyman was deputed to take them 
back to Boston. This he finally succeeded in doing, 
although many times on the homeward march his 
life was in great peril from them. Arnold at length 
reached Quebec, but with ranks greatlj^ thinned, and 
with only five rounds of ammunition to a man. 
Montgomery soon joined him, but the combined force 
numbered not more than 1,200 men ; and the time of 
many of these was soon to expire. To make the sit- 
uation more deplorable, it was the dead of Winter. 
A desperate, and, as it proved, disastrous assault was 
made in the teeth of a howling storm, on the last 
night but one of 1775. The gallant Montgomery 
fell ; and with him many brave men suffered death or 
capture. But the dauntless spirit of Arnold was not 
yet quelled ; and he determined to maintain the siege 
as far as possible. Montgomery's fall roused the 
spirit of the colonists, who determined to retrieve the 
disaster. 

Without waiting to consult Congress, Washington 
recommended Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and 
Connecticut, each to raise and send forward a regi- 
ment. The command of our regiment he gave to 
Col. Elisha Porter ot Hadley, in a letter which Por- 
ter's descendants preserve as the most precious 
among numerous documentary relics of their ances- 
tor. Washington desires him '• to use the utmost 
diligence and dispatch possible, to complete the regi- 
ment, and march it into Canada by the shortest and 
best way, that, from your knowledge of the country, 
and from the best information you can get, you 
think will be the most expeditious. The necessity 
of reinforcing our troops posted, and forming the 



COL. porter's diary. 37 

blockade of Quebec, is too apparent to need dwell- 
ing on. I would have you order each company to 
march as fast as they are raised, the wdiole put- 
ting themselves under command of the general or 
command ino; officer in Canada, as fast as thev arrive 
there." 

This regiment was composed largely of Hampshire 
troops. The diary of Colonel Porter, covering a por- 
tion of their period of service, is a most interesting 
relic, among his papers. From it the following frag- 
mentary extracts are made, since it gives an authen- 
tic picture of the times, which will be of interest to 
us ; especially as some of our town's people form a 
part of the picture. 

Porter's appointment was made Januar}^ 19, 177o. 
For two months he was filling up the regiment, and 
dispatching companies to the front. February 4th, 
he went to Northampton, and gave orders to Captain 
Chapin and Lieutenant Hunt, who, it will be observed, 
commanded^ our company in the expedition. He got 
them off in advance of himself March 22d, he got 
off Captain Josiah Lyman's, the Belchertown com- 
pany. He himself set out the next day. About the 
29th, he met a man, three weeks from Quebec, who 
had seen Captain Chapin's company at St. Johns. 
Made the passage from Skeenesborough (now White- 
hall) to Ticonderoga in boats, he and Captains 
Lyman and Shepherd, with some of their men, cut- 
ting several miles through ice six inches thick. April 
17th, set out from Ticonderoga with one hundred and 
forty-four men. Reached St. Johns on the 19th. 
Ordered by Arnold to join Wooster at Quebec, wdiich 
they reached on the 27th, camping on the Plains of 
Abraham. Saw several of Captain Chapin's company. 



38 COL. porter's diary. 

which was five miles distant. All have had the small- 
pox but William Clark ; mostly recovered. Drew 
ammunition. Carried ladders near to the walls, un- 
der cover of the fog. Under arms upon the heights. 
General Thomas took command. Enemy about to 
be strongly reinforced. Sent to Captain Chapin to 
bring off his men at once. In line of battle on the 
heights. Ordered to retreat. Marched fifteen miles. 
Halted at 8 p. m. Intermittent sleep. Off at mid- 
night. At sunrise got two loaves of bread lor sev- 
enty men. Fired upon by ships. Marched thirty 
miles. Men from hospital, scarce able to walk, with 
the rest. Heavy cannonade. Can't make a stand 
for want of provisions, and of everything but can- 
non. Sick men from Quebec return, except William 
Clark of Captain Chaj)in's company, who was left dy- 
ing. John Davis and Walker of the same company, 
who were not able to be moved, doubtless perished. 
Half allowance of meat to-day. No meat for three 
days. Regiment ordered to St. Johns. Appointed 
commander of the garrison at Chambly. General 
Thomas dies of small-pox. Captain Chapin one of 
the bearers. Heavy firing below St. Johns. Gen- 
eral Thompson and others prisoners. Worked till 
midnight with all my men, in getting up bateaux. 
Rained very hard. Then turned in. By light turned 
out on fatigue duty. Alarm in the afternoon. 
Worked all night in hauling bateaux up the rapids. 
Burnt the fort at Chambly. Marched to St. Johns. 
Colonel Stark's and my regiment brought up the 
rear. Council of War decides to retire to Crown 
Point. One hundred and twenty-six of my regiment 
sick. Had a present of fresh beef — a great rarity. 
Not enough bateaux. Marched along the shore, 



COMMITTEES OF SAFETY. 39 

bringing up the rear. Lodged on the ground with- 
out a covering. Men in an ugly swamp. A good 
sermon by Mr. Breck. Clothing divided among the 
soldiers. July 16tli received the agreeable news 
of independency being declared by the Congress. 
About noon, two or three kettles of brandy grog 
evidenced our joy at the news, which we expressed 
in proper toasts. 

At this time they were at Crown Point, and reached 
Ticonderoga the next day, where the army was di- 
vided into four brigades, Porter's regiment being 
assigned to Arnold's brigade. Here Colonel Porter 
was frequently employed in courts-martial, in one of 
which Arnold was tried for some misdemeanor and 
reported to Congress. A little later, Capt. Joseph 
Lyman of Northampton arrived with a company of 
ninety-nine recruits. The diary ends August 25th, 
at which time Colonel Porter reports that many of 
his men were sick of fever and ague and other 
diseases. 

When the men of this regiment returned I am not 
able to ascertain. But it is certain that Colonel Por- 
ter had a command at the surrender of Burgoyne a 
year later; and it is to be presumed that the regi- 
ment was recruited, and continued through the cam- 
paign, which culminated in the victory at Saratoga. 

The Committees of Correspondence and Safety 
played an important part throughout the province, in 
the home management of affairs. They were ap- 
pointed in every town, early in the great struggle, 
even before appeal was made to arms. 

They looked after deserters and tories ; they con- 
sulted for the public weal ; and Avere in communi- 
cation with both the civil and the military authori- 



40 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY. 

ties, and with one another. As a specimen of the 
spirit with which they were appointed, the following 
vote, passed by Belchertown, may be given. Hav- 
ing appointed a committee of safety, February 9, 
1775, "to confer with similar committees from other 
towns," it was "voted by a great majority, that, if 
we hear of any routs, riots, or other unlawful assem- 
blies, we will immediately inform one or more of the 
committee, and will, in compliance to their advice, do 
anything that is reasonable, or within our power, to 
suppress them." It was also recommended, that, if 
they could not be otherwise suppressed, the aid of the 
committees from other towns be invoked. This favor 
they promised to reciprocate in case of need. 

Northampton's first Committee of Correspondence, 
Inspection, and Safety, consisted of the following rep- 
resentative men : Maj. Joseph Hawley, Robert Breck, 
Ezra Clark, Dea. Josiah Clark, Jacob Parsons, Col. 
Setli Pomeroy, Elijah Hunt, Ephraim Wright, Ellas 
Lyman, Lieut. Elijah Clark, Capt. Joseph Lyman, 
who afterwards led a company of recruits to join the 
northern army, Quartus Pomeroy, Martin Phelps, Ca- 
leb Strong, Jr., and Dr. Levi Shepherd. 

There had, however, been a previous Committee 
of Correspondence, and also one of Inspection. These 
two were superseded by the new committee, which 
was to have the whole matter in hand. 

The next committee consisted of the same persons, 
excepting that Abner Barnard and John Lyman were 
substituted for Col. Seth Pomeroy and Elijah Hunt. 

The Southampton Committee of Safety consisted 
of Jonathan Judd, Jr., Samuel Burt, Elias Lyman, 
Aaron Clark, Jonathan Clark, Timothy Clark, Sam- 
uel Pomeroy, Samuel Clapp, and Israel Sheldon. 



COMMITTEES OF SAFETY. 41 

May 8, 1775, the Provincial Congress authorized 
the Committees of Correspondence and Selectmen of 
the towns, " to take effectual care to disarm all who 
will not give assurance of their good intentions in re- 
gard to the interests of the country," and to " put it 
out of their power to obstruct, by any means what- 
ever, the necessary measures for the common de- 
fence." This was a precaution made necessary by 
the tory spirit, which here and there exhibited itself. 

Local conventions of the Committees of Safety 
were occasionally held for mutual conference. One 
was held at Northampton, February 5, 1777, at which 
most of the towns of old Hampshire were represented. 
Nathaniel Dwight, chairman of Belchertown's com- 
mittee, presided over the convention. They took 
into consideration the suffering condition of the 
northern army, and sought to stir up the Committee 
of Supplies to send relief. Various other recom- 
mendations were made, one of which was a peti- 
tion to the General Court, to devise measures to sup- 
press toryism. They complain of " our inimical 
brethren," who, it appears, sneered at the General 
Court ; defied the selectmen to draft them ; counter- 
feited the paper currency ; paid no regard to the Com- 
mittees of Safety; and endeavored to prevent the 
raising of a new levy of men. 

A complaint made by Capt. Josiah Lyman of the 
Belchertown company in Colonel Porter's regiment, 
just before he set out for Canada, will illustrate this 
state of things. The document was addressed to 
the home Committee of Safety, of which Nathaniel 
Dwight, president of the aforesaid convention, w^as 
chairman, and, with sundry omissions, is as follows: 
'• Josiah Lyman complains, and says that he was at 
G 



42 COMMITTEES OF SAFETY. 

Ware, with orders from Colonel Porter to enlist men 
to join the regiment in the proposed expedition to 
Canada ; and he and Luke Chapin having got seven 

men willing to enlist, Colonel tells them, that 

the head men of the town was no ways obliged to 
encourage their men to go, and appeared to talk dis- 
couraging about their enlisting. Colonel 's son 

Moses said Colonel Porter was a d — d Tory, and he 
had as lief go under Tom Gage as go under him, and 
that he would not go under him if he migiit be his 

lieutenant-colonel. Colonel said he had some 

scruples upon his mind about him. I, the said 
Josiah, queried why he voted for Porter to go to 
Canada. He said he did not think he was a Tory, 
but that he was too fierce and heady. In all which 
I, the said Josiah, think I was much injured and 
abused." 

Luke Chapin, and several other eye-witnesses of 
the affair, confirm Captain Lyman's charges. Whether 
anything was ever done about it is not known. At 

this time, the aforesaid Colonel was in command 

of the Fourth Hampshire regiment of militia, but was 
superseded by Colonel Porter upon his return from 
active service. That his arraignment of Porter was 
unjust, the confidence of Washington in Porter, as 
well as his own supersedure, abundantly proves. His 
motive was, probably, not Toryism, but personal 
jealousy ; for he seems to have retained the confi- 
dence of his townsmen, so far that he was afterwards 
influential in town affairs. 

All accounts agree that the northern army suffered 
severe hardships. They were insufficiently supplied 
with clothing, and were often short of food. Small- 
pox and fevers ravaged the army fearfully. Of the 



COMMITTEES OF SAFETY. 43 

garrison at Ticonderoga, a few months after the period 
covered by Porter's diary, Bancroft says : " The sick 
were very numerous and perishing in misery, and all 
suffered from want of clothing.'' There was, also, some 
lack of discipline, and consequently of efficiency, ow- 
ing partly to the short terms of enlistment, and partly 
to the independent spirit of the citizen soldiers, who 
were patriotic, but had not fully learned the need of 
subordination in military affairs. 

On account of the hardship to be endured, deser- 
tions were frequent; and here the services of the 
Committees of Safety were called into requisition by 
the officers in the field. There is preserved among 
Colonel Porter's papers, a letter to himself from 
Major Hawley, chairman of our Committee of Safety. 
It is interesting, as showing the current state of 
affairs, the functions of the Committees of Safety, the 
motive and spirit of the deserters, and the attitude of 
the people towards them. It is dated July 7, 1776, 
and is as follows : " Sir : — Mr. Breck lately received 
a letter from Captain Chapin and Lieutenant Hunt," 
(who were in command of our men in Porter's reo-i- 
ment,) "informing him that several of their company 
had deserted. We iramediatel}^ wrote to the com- 
mittees of every place where we thought they might 
secrete themselves, requesting the most effectual 
measures to secure them; but before they could have 
heard of it, those of this town came home. When 
called before the committee, they declared their de- 
sign to return back, as soon as they could properly 
furnish themselves with the necessary apparel ; and 
mentioned the want of it as the occasion of their 
deserting. They desired the committee to fix the 
time of their return. From a consideration of their 



44 THE SPIRIT OF '76. 

circumstances, we permitted them to stay till this 
day. 

" We heard that those from Southampton were to 
be at Worthington at a particular time, and sent to 
apprehend them ; but are now convinced that they 
had no design to secrete themselves. They readily 
engaged to return, and said they always intended to ; 
and seemed extremely sorry for their indiscretion. 
As they have all conducted well heretofore, and are 
persons of good reputation, we wish and request on 
their behalf, that the greatest lenity may be shown 
them. The disapprobation of their conduct among 
their friends has been some degree of punishment ; 
and we beg leave to say that we imagine a temporary 
shame for misconduct, in minds that are ingenuous, 
will sometimes produce better effects than punish- 
ment attended with lasting infamy." 

We, certainly, have no occasion to judge them more 
severely than did Major Hawley. Many things may 
be excused in a half-clad, poorly-fed soldier. The 
case was a desperate one, and no wonder that faith 
sometimes failed. 

Colonel Porter's regiment set out for Canada in 
the midst of the early snows of 1776. On the 25th 
of June, in the same year, the General Court ordered 
five thousand troops to be raised for six months' ser- 
vice. The Hampshire troops were to reinforce the 
northern army, and were offered each a bounty of 
c£7. The quota of old Hampshire was seven hundred 
and fifty-four ; of these, Northampton was to send 
forty-seven, and Southampton seventeen. Shortly 
after, other regiments were ordered from Hampshire 
and Berkshire, to join the northern army. In Sep- 
tember, Washington called for more of the militia; 



MAJOR CLAPP AND SONS. 45 

and the General Court ordered every fifth man to 
march. Nor was this enough. In December, one- 
eighth of the Hampshire militia were ordered to join 
Schuyler and Gates. Bradford, in his History of 
Massachusetts, remarks : " Nothing but a devoted 
spirit of patriotism, and a strong love of liberty, 
could have prompted to such sacrifices and efforts. 
In other times, the expenses and exertions of the 
year 1776 alone, would have discouraged the inhab- 
itants. The greater part of the whole male popula- 
tion was engaged in the public service in the course 
of the year. It also required large numbers to attend 
the wagons of provisions and stores, and ship carpen- 
ters were sent to the lake to build boats ; and women 
and children were obliged to perform, the ordinary 
labor of asrriculture." 

o 

These were stirring times ; and it is to be re- 
gretted that we have so incomplete a record of the 
names of the soldiers who served the country during 
this period ; though it seems that it must have in- 
cluded nearly the whole able-bodied male population. 

As an instance of this, it may be related that 
Jonathan Clapp, son of Major Jonathan and brother 
of Quartermaster Benjamin, who ran the grist mill 
on the Manhan, had been compelled to resist his 
impulses to join the arm^^, in order to serve the 
people at home as a miller, there being no other in 
the region. But as news came, in 1777, that the 
conflict was approaching between our army and Bur- 
goyne, he could no longer resist his impulses ; and 
so he locked his mill and hastened towards the seat 
of conflict, though he was too late for the engage- 
ment. 

At the time of the battle of Bennington, which 



46 DELINQUENTS. 

had shortly preceded Burgoyne's defeat, his father, 
Major Jonathan, who was in some public service, lay 
sick in Pittsfield, in care of the other son, Benjamin. 
The roar of the artillery was distinctly heard in Pitts- 
field, and filled the son with such ardor, that nothing 
but the extreme necessity of his father prevented him 
from rushing off for the ivaiy. 

Who led those companies from the Hamptons, 
which followed Captain Chapin's company of Porter's 
regiment, during the northern campaign, I am imable 
to say, saving that the Northampton records, in 1777, 
speak of " the men who went with Capt. Joseph 
Lyman to Ticonderoga last Summer." It will be 
remembered that Porter, in his diary, speaks of the 
arrival of these men. It appears, also, that one, Cap- 
tain Allen, led another company; for, early in 1777, 
the town voted that '' the persons who shall now en- 
gage in the service aforesaid, who belonged to Cap- 
tain Allen's company and Captain Chapin's company 
the last year, both officers and privates, shall have 
full compensation for all losses by them sustained in 
clothes and other articles." Each of these, and any 
others who would enlist, were to be paid a bounty of 
£15. 

It was at this time reported, that some citizens had 
failed to do their proper share in promoting the pub- 
lic cause ; and accordingly the town chose a committee 
to see who were delinquent, and to assess them such 
sums as they judged to be their share. The clerks 
of the militia companies were to collect this money. 
Northampton appears at that time to have had four 
militia companies ; and the committee on delinquents 
in the fourth, which must have been our company, 
were Capt. David Lyman, Jonathan Janes, Samuel 



CAPTURE OF BURGOYNE. 47 

Judd, David Chapman, and Joel Parsons. These, it 
will be noticed, are Easthampton names. 

At this time, it was seen to be of great importance, 
that the enlistments be for three years, in order that 
the armies might not be liable to be crippled in a 
crisis, by the expiration of the soldiers' terms. En- 
listments for this term proceeded very slowly ; and 
the full levy was not secured till orders were issued 
for the several towns to raise their proportion by 
classes, making each class responsible for a man. 
The recruiting authorities were to make as good 
terms as they could with the men. The records of 
Northampton show that this course was taken here. 
How many, or who, Easthampton sent is not known ; 
but she must have sent her quota. 

It was voted at that time, to allow each man, who 
had or who would enlist for three years, or during 
the war, £30 ; and to pay to certain marines a bounty 
of <£10 for two years, and of .£10 more for another 
year. If the families of soldiers in the Continental 
army were in need, it was voted to see them sup- 
plied. 

April 23, 1777, two battalions of seven hundred 
and fifty men each, were ordered from Hampshire 
County, for two months' service around Ticonderoga. 
This would have required nearly one hundred men 
from Northampton. But the cup was not even yet 
full. The formidable advance of Burgoyne in Au- 
gust, demanded larger sacrifices. Berkshire and 
Hampshire, and afterward other counties, were or- 
dered to send on reinforcements. This levy called 
out every seventh man in the militia Large sums 
were expended in provisioning the troops, and in 
making passable the roads over our western hills. 



48 REQUISITIONS OF '78. 

Great must have been the rejoicing of onr people, 
when, at length, tidings came of the severe but victo- 
rious battles about Saratoga, and of the capitulation 
of Burgojne on the 19th of October. I can never, 
however, think of the rejoicings of the victors, with- 
out thinking, too, of the heartache of those, by the 
blood of whose friends the victory was won. Who 
of our townsmen fell at Saratoga, I can not tell. 
But I make no doubt, that some hearts among us 
ached, when the brave victors returned ; but for all 
that it was matter for great rejoicing. The great 
nightmare, which had rested upon the breast of the 
State for more than a twelvemonth, was shaken off. 
The pet scheme of our enemies had failed. The im- 
mense drain upon the resources of the State would 
now, in some measure, be checked. The militia, 
some of whom had been long from home, were re- 
turned to their homes. Their immediate object was 
accomplished ; but the war was by no means over. 

Burgoyne and his soldiers were conducted to Bos- 
ton, whence, on parole, they sailed to England. 
Their route to the sea-board lay through Northamp- 
ton and Hadley. Burgoyne was in custody of Colo- 
nel Porter, at whose house he spent a night. It is a 
fact of interest that that house is still occupied by 
Colonel Porter's descendants. 

The war wore on, with its varied success and de- 
feat ; with its heavy drafts of men and military sup- 
plies. But the towns nobly responded to the calls. 
In the year 1778, there were several calls. On the 
20th of April, requisition was made upon Massachu- 
setts for two thousand men, to recruit her fifteen 
decimated battalions in the Continental array. Hamp- 
shire's share was two hundred and forty-two ; North- 



IIEQUISITIONS OF '79. 49 

ampton's thirteen. On the same dety, one thousand 
five hundred were ordered for the North River and 
Rhode Island, of which Hampshire was to furnish one 
hundred and eighty-two. Later in the year, this 
county had to furnish, for service in Rhode Island, and 
with General Stark at Albany, one hundred each. 
These calls would have required about thirty-three 
men from Northampton during the year. 

The year 1779 saw no lightening of the burden. 
On the 8th of June, the county was asked for one 
hundred and two men for seven months' service in 
Rhode Island ; and for two hundred and twenty-eight 
nine months' men to recruit again her fifteen battal- 
ions. On the 9th of October, she was asked for four 
hundred and fifty, to co-operate with the forces sent 
by our ally, France. To each of these men was given, 
besides their regular Continental pay, a bounty of 
£16 per month; and to the latter, a bonus of £30 
also, and 2s. mileage. It must be remembered that, 
by this time, paper was at a discount. The records 
show that Northampton bravely did her share of the 
work of this year. Repeated assemblies were held to 
institute measures for meeting the call. Now the 
town was borrowing money to pay the bounty ; now 
instructing the selectmen to get the men on as good 
terms as possible, but to get them at all events; 
here a reference to those who went to Providence, 
and to those who went with Captain Cook to New 
London ; and there an order that a certain part of the 
bounty be paid in wheat at 4s., or "rie " at 3s., or 
corn at 2s. a bushel. 

Although we know the burden of a four years' war, 
we are not fully able to realize the burden of an 
eight years' war, a part of it almost within hearino-. 



50 CONTKIBUTIONS OF CLOTHING. 

As the burden became heavier, men would stay at 
home if drafted, and pay a fine instead. 

And it was not only men, but money, clothing and 
food, which were needed. At that time we had no 
factories. Our mothers carded and spun the wool, 
dyed the yarn, knit it into stockings, or wove it into 
blankets for the bed, or into cloth from which they 
cut and made the garments. When anything of this 
kind was needed, requisition was laid upon the towns. 
Committees were frequently appointed, either to so- 
licit or in some cases with power to make such de- 
mands as they judged proportionate, upon the vari- 
ous families. Many times, blankets were cheerfully 
taken from beds in use. In 1778-9 and 80, orders 
were passed for the collection of shirts, shoes, and 
stockings ; in one instance equal in number to one- 
seventh the males ; in another to one-tenth the num- 
ber of males over sixteen, and half as many blankets. 
In one case Northampton's share of each was sixty- 
four; and in another about forty, and half as many 
blankets. And Southampton's share was about half 
as many. In the call of 1780, Elijah Hunt of North- 
ampton, was agent for Hampshire County. In 1778, 
a committee was appointed to go from house to house 
through the town, to collect " such things as they 
judged would be serviceable to the soldiers." These 
were to be sent to Albany " for the soldiers who 
went from this town." Jonathan Janes was the so- 
licitor in our section of the old town. August 9, 
1779, o£l,500 were voted to pay for clothing lor the 
Continental army, and on November 9, £1,678. At 
the same time they appointed a committee to pur- 
chase grain for the army. In 1780, a supply of beef 
was ordered, and Northampton voted to purchase, 



REGULATION OF PRICES. 51 

upon its credit, eleven thousand three hundred and 
sixty pounds. As showing the depreciation of the 
currency at this time, it may be mentioned that 
Belchertown's quota of beef was six thousand three 
hundred and sixty pounds, for which they had to pay 
£7,362. The records of Belchertown show three 
several calls for beef within a year. 

One of the interesting and somewhat odd things 
on record as to those times, is the foct of the appoint- 
ment of the following distinguished citizens as a com- 
mittee " to procure cotton and linen rags, for the 
necessary purpose of making paper : " Simeon Par- 
sons, Levi Shepherd, Benjamin Tappan, John Lyman, 
Maj. Jonathan Clapp. 

Inasmuch as it had been noticed, " that many per- 
sons have hoarded up great stores, for which they 
asked exorbitant prices, which tends to discourage 
the soldiers, wrong the poor, and ' sinque ' the conti- 
nental currency," the four New England States, by a 
conference of committees, sought to fix the price of 
the necessaries of life. Their recommendations, rat- 
ified by the several legislatures, fixed the prices in 
the market centers. Massachusetts allowed local 
modification of the same. 

This was in 1777 ; and in 1779, another State Con- 
vention was held in Concord, to regulate prices ; also 
a local convention in Northampton, " to agree upon a 
uniformity in the price of the articles, in the several 
towns in the County." Upon the basis of the agree- 
ment of 1777, Belchertown agreed upon a list of 
prices, which was probably essentially like that of the 
sister towns in this valley. It will be interesting to 
note a few of the most important or unique items. 

Prices of labor. Farm hands, in haying or harvest, 



52 easthampton's soldiers. 

not to exceed 3s. a day, and their dinner. A man, 
and two yoke of oxen, in the Spring, 6s. a day. Car- 
penters, 3s. 8d. a day. Women tailors, Is. a day. 
Housemaids, 3s. a week. Man's board, 6s. a week. 
" A dinner at the tavern, without cyder to drink with 
it, lOd." Farm produce. Rye, 4s., corn, 3s., peas and 
beans, 6s., potatoes, 1 to Hs. a bushel. Fresh pork, 
4d., beef,, old., mutton and veal, 2id., cheese, 6d., 
butter, 8d , wool, 2s. per pound. Yard wide flannel, 
cotton, and linen, 3s. 6d. a yard. Best men's shoes, 
8s. a pair. This was a legislative, anti-monopoly 
movement. What effect it had, the town records at 
least, do not state. 

We regret that we have not a more complete rec- 
ord of the names of the soldiers of the Revolution- 
ary period. But men were too busy then with doing, 
to think very much about recording their deeds. 

We of this town should be especially glad if we 
knew who, in the district which afterwards was made 
Easthampton, to remember as our representatives in 
the great struggle ; though we do not ascribe to the 
soldiers all the glory. The whole people shared in 
the hardships of the period. Especially was this true 
of the period which culminated with the surrender of 
Burgoyne. Everything not absolutely essential to 
the support of those at home, was then sent to the 
army. But though all the people shared the hard- 
ships, we should be glad to know who rendered actual 
military service ; but our desire can be only in part 
gratified. 

I have been able to find no record of the names of 
Northampton's soldiers, and we are left only to the 
statements handed down from that time by word of 
mouth. Putting these together, Rev. Luther Wright, 



easthampton's soldiers. 53 

in a note appended to his Historical Sketch of East- 
hampton, says : " Among those engaged more or less 
in the service of their country, were Captain Joseph 
Clapp and Quartermaster Benjamin Clapp, Dr. Ste- 
phen Wood, and his sons Daniel and David ; the father 
died in the service at West Point. John Clapp, who 
was in the army four years, Benjamin Lyman, Jr., 
Stephen Wright, Jr., David Clapp, who never returned, 
Levi Clapp, Eliakim Clark, afterwards captain, Barzilar 
Brewer, and Willet Chapman. The last two died in 
the army. Moses Gouch served through the war." 

I can add only the names of Phinehas Clark, Zadoc 
Danks, Stephen Wright, the father of Samuel Brooks, 
formerly of this town, and Daniel Braman. 

On a previous page, I have spoken of the service 
of Major Jonathan Clapp and his sons, Jonathan and 
Benjamin. The latter was out twice, once with 
Washington at and about White Plains, N. Y. Two 
of Burgoyne's captured soldiers w^ere, for a time, 
quartered with him in Easthampton. They were 
men of education and good parts. On one occasion, 
during his absence, his wife asked one of them to 
say grace at the table. This he did, and, somewhat 
irreverently, characterized the dish of meat as 
" bones," and his host as a rebel. Such trifling did 
not suit the Puritan and patriotic wife ; and, on the 
return of her husband, they were treated to a good 
round lecture, and given to understand that it did 
not become prisoners to be too captious. 

Phinehas Clark was, on one occasion, stationed as a 
guard on an important post, when an officer under- 
took to persuade him to allow him to pass without 
the countersign, urging that his business was most 
important. But the guard halted him by the deter- 



54 easthampton's soldiers. 

mined threat to pierce him with his bayonet in case 
of further advance ; whereat the officer, who was 
Washington in disguise, revealed himself, and ex- 
pressed himself as satisfied with the guard's soldierly 
conduct. On another occasion, when he was ill, he 
was placed on guard ; and was overcome by sleep. 
He was arrested and tried by court-martial ; but his 
illness (which should have exempted him from duty) 
and his youth, were plead in extenuation so warmly, 
by his comrades of Northampton, that his life was 
spared ; and he received only the nominal punish- 
ment ot a day in the guard-house. It is said that the 
confinement probably saved his life, as the day was 
so excessively hot that many on duty were fatally 
sun-struck. 

Benjamin Lyman, Jr., was the first of our citizens 
to enlist in the Continental army, which he did at the 
age of sixteen years. He was in the battle of Ben- 
nington. The story is preserved among his descend- 
ants that he was acting as a scout at the time of 
the capture of Major Andre ; and that he helped to 
conduct Andre to head-quarters, holding the rope in 
his hands while Andre was pinioned. During the 
night, while they were traveling, Andre stumbled 
over some obstacle and fell, after which he complained 
of having suffered injury by the fall. On this account 
young Lyman gave him a little looser rope. He was 
also one of those who kept guard at the sad time of 
Andre's execution. 

It is said that while in the army, he became so ac- 
customed to the use of tainted meat, that, in after 
years, he frequently allowed meat to become tainted 
before eating it, though he could never get any to 
quite equal that after which he was patterning. 



TRUST IN GOD. 55 

These figures and facts, which I have been seeking 
to set before you, meant more to our fathers than 
they do to you. The statistics I have given, may be 
dull as you hear them to-day; but they interested 
them profoundly. If one hundred men were wanted 
to-day from Easthampton, some of you would be com- 
pelled to clothe yourself in blue, and take the musket 
in your hand. Some of you would soon be saying a 
last farewell to these smiling fields, to these grand old 
hills, to these pleasant homes, and to those in them 
whom you dearly love. You know, some of you, 
what these farewells mean ; though, by a good Provi- 
dence, they were not to you last farewells. But a 
four years' war does not drag so heavily as does an 
eight years' war; and though we suffered in the war 
for the Union, our sufferings and sacrifices were 
eclipsed by those of our fathers, in the war for Inde- 
pendence. And we ought to remember them grate- 
fully, and cherish the record of their deeds. 

The men of that day were men of profound trust 
in God. Joseph Hawley, for instance, was a man of 
earnest piety as well as of ardent patriotism. When 
the faint-hearted suggested in 1774, " Don't put off 
the boat till you know where you will land," Haw- 
ley's confident reply was, " God will bring us to a safe 
harbor." " Their energy," says a historian of the 
period, " was derived from their sense of the divine 
power." 

This looking to God as their Sovereign, made our 
fathers dare to break with England at the outset ; and 
brought them to this country. This controlled the 
spirit of their sons of the Revolutionary period, and 
made them set right above title and authority. They 
went to the peculiar and trying duties of those years 



56 OUR MATERIAL GROWTH. 

of strife and sacrifice, with seriousness and acknowl- 
edgment of God, as though they were to engage in 
acts of worship. Their confidence in God sustained 
their courage. It was God who gave them wisdom to 
frame the form of government which they gave to 
posterity. It was through the unseen pilotage of 
God, that the ship of State sailed safe through the 
perils of the early days of the Republic. Let us 
never forg-et that God is the source of national secu- 
rity. He it is who must pilot us, as He piloted our 
fathers, or we shall go to wreck. The proneness of 
man to forget God, or ignore his personal agency, is 
one of our great dangers. As a nation, we have had 
marvelous material prosperity. Never, since the world 
stood, has so large a territory been subjugated and 
peopled, in so short a time. The fertility of inven- 
tion has operated to make the fertility of the soil 
available. The methods of tillage and of manufiic- 
ture have been revolutionized in a way greatly to 
enhance the power of any individual over nature, 
and enabling each one to harness to his own uses 
far more of nature's forces than in the days of our 
fathers. The power of swift locomotion and of in- 
stantaneous communication, gives us the world for a 
market, and enables us to feel the pulse of all na- 
tions. The influx of population from foreign lands 
has largely increased the material resources of the 
nation, though at some risk. Our institutions have 
stood great and repeated strains. We stand strong 
to-day, notwithstanding that multitudes have departed 
from God. We have strength, and seem likely to en- 
dure far into the future. We are at peace with the 
world, whom we have invited to meet us in a friendly 
contest in the industrial, and some of the fine arts, in 



THE NEED OF CHARACTER. 57 

the city where our fathers, one hundred years ago 
to-day, published to mankind their Declaration of 
Independence. 

Now, in contemplating this wonderful growth, and 
this amazing expansion of our power, there is danger 
that our thoughts will rest too exclusively upon ma- 
terial greatness ; that we shall exalt skill in workman- 
ship, and wealth of resources too highly. We may, 
perhaps, feel undue security as to the perpetuity of 
the Eepublic, because it has endured the searching 
tests of one hundred years. But we have not yet so 
far stood the test of time, that our institutions are 
placed beyond contingency. One hundred and sev- 
enty-five years before the fatal night of Chaldea, 
Isaiah prophesied her impending fate. But she con- 
tinued, in reckless disregard of the warning, to court 
her doom. All this while, at least until near the last, 
she was steadily increasing in material greatness. 
But in one night Babylon fell ; and from that time 
forth the Chaldean became a vassal. 

Let us not be over secure. If the Republic is to 
continue its beneficent existence, it will be because of 
the virtue and piety of the people. 

Nothing is more demonstrable from history, than 
that a predominantly material civilization speedily 
becomes a corrupt civilization. And such a civiliza- 
tion is neither the nurse nor conservator of republics ; 
but is the mother of abominations, and the foe of the 
best interests of men. Therefore, it is most import- 
ant, that the young men and women, who are to-day 
in training to become pillars in society, should be 
taught that a nation's highest interests are not ma- 
terial, but immaterial ; that virtue is of more conse- 
quence than fortune ; that intellectual attainment is a 



58 EELIGION A DEFENCE. 

worthier object of endeavor than physical gratifica- 
tion ; that manhood is better than money ; that it is 
better to lift fallen men to a recognition of their kin- 
ship with Christ, than to levy tribute upon the bow- 
els of the earth and the inimitable caverns of the 
sea, for the decoration and adornment of the home or 
person, or for ministering to the convenience and 
comfort of men, desirable though these objects may 
be ; that it is better for a people to be rich in faith, 
than in public lands, in piety than in cotton and corn, 
in love than in a mercantile marine ; that duty is 
more imperative than pleasure ; that to die for one's 
country is better than to save life by basely desert- 
ing^ her in her hour of need. Of men and women 
holding this persuasion firmly, and making their 
practice illustrate and enforce their persuasion, the 
country has most sore need. They are the salt 
which will preserve us from decay. The ship of 
state has by no means outridden its perils ; but is yet 
environed and beleaguered by them. These perils are 
not so much material as moral. If the nation does 
not become bankrupt in character, it will not be 
likely to become bankrupt in fortune. If it does be- 
come bankrupt in character, its gold will be a mill- 
stone about its neck. 

The most effectual and, indeed, the only sure, guar- 
antee of character is love to God. Pure religion, 
possessing the heart, makes a man not only a safe 
element in society, but a source of security. As her 
citizens become truly religious, therefore, a State 
takes a new lease of life. A religion, however, which 
God does not inspire, is either a delusion or a sham ; 
and is, in neither case, a guarantee of character on the 
part of its devotees. God, therefore, must be in the 



4 

RELIGION A DEFENCE. 59 

State, and must, in some degree, inspire and guide 
its citizens ; or a government, in which the citizens 
are rulers, is fatally wanting in the elements of per- 
petuity. 

Well, indeed, might we to-day, and on other days, 
with ever increasing fervor, pray : " God save the 
Commonwealth 1 " God save the Republic ! 



Note. — Besides the original documents which were consulted in the prep- 
aration of this Address, the following works were employed as authorities, 
viz. : Judd's History of Hadley ; Bancroft's History of the United States ; 
Bradford's and Barry's Histories of Massachusetts ; Holland's History of 
Western Massachusetts ; An Address delivered at Northampton at the close 
of the Second Century of its settlement, by Rev. William Allen, D. D., 
and An Historical Address delivered in Southampton, by Rev. Prof. B, B. 
Edwards, D. D. 

The manuscript papers left by Col. Elisha Porter, now in custody of one of 
his descendants. Miss Abby P. Smith, of Hadley, to which the author was 
kindly allowed access, and for which he makes acknowledgment, were of im- 
portant service to him. To all who in any way aided him, he also gives 
thanks. P. W. L. 



APPENDIX. 



THE EVENTS OF TEN YEARS IN" EASTHAMPTON. 

The proclamation of the President of the United States, con- 
cerning the public observance of the Centennial Anniversary of 
our national independence, recommended the preparation, delivery, 
and preservation, of addresses, each setting forth the history of its 
own locality. It would, however, have been manifestly unsuita- 
ble for the author of " The History of Easthampton," in a brief 
address, to review the ground surveyed in that volume. He 
chose, rather, after sketching the period of settlement, to present 
an outline picture of the early part of the revolutionary struggle, 
giving to the pictiire as much of a local coloring as was possible. 
But, though it was needless, at present, to re-write the history of 
the town, it seems suitable to improve the opportunity given by 
the publication of the address, to bring the history down to the 
present time, by a brief sketch of the events of the past decade. 
That is the object of this appendix, which brings the survey of 
the town's history down to March 15, 1877. 

If we look first at the religious interests of the town, we find 
that no change has occurred in the pastorate of the First Congre- 
gational Church. Kev. A. M. Colton is still ministering, with 
acceptance, to the spiritual wants of the people of that society. 
He is now in the twenty-fourth year of his pastorate, and is still 
doing good work. The deacons of the First Church are Eleazer 
W. Hannum, E. Alonzo Clark, and Lauren D. Lyman, the latter 
of whom was chosen February 3, 1870, to fill the vacancy occa- 
sioned by the death of Kev. Luther Wright. Few church ofiicers 
have so long a term of service as that of Deacon Hannum, who 
has filled his office now for forty-three j'-ears. The relations of 
the First and Payson Churches are, at the present time, more 
than ever fraternal. 



62 CHURCHES. 

The latter is now without a pastor. For thirteen years Rev. 
S. T. Seelye, D. D., performed the duties of that office accepta- 
bly ; but prolonged ill health recently compelled his resignation. 
The official relation between pastor and people was terminated 
January 8, 1877, in accordance with the advice of a council, of 
which Eev. Gordon Hall, D. D., of Northampton, was moderator, 
and Rev. E. G. Cobb, of Florence, scribe. 

As a citizen and a neighbor, not less than as a pastor. Doctor 
Seelye would be missed from the community, were he to change 
his place of residence. 

The deacons of this church are C. B. Johnson, E. H. Sawyer, 
M. H. Leonard, and J. H. Sawyer. The first two were serv- 
ing ten years ago ; and the last two were chosen December 4, 
1873, and January 4, 1877, respectively. Within the period 
under review, A. J. Lyman has filled this office three years, but 
declined a re-election. 

Superintendents of the First Church Sunday-school, in the 
past ten years, have been Lewis Clapp, Lafayette Clapp, James 
Keene, and J. H. Judd ; and of the Payson Church School, A. 
B. Lyman, H. J. Bly, J. H. Sawyer, J. K. Richardson, and A. 
J. Lyman. 

The Methodist Church, which was under the pastoral care of 
Rev. Franklin Furber in 1866, has since enjoyed the ministra- 
tions of Revs. C. T. Johnson, W. W. Colburn, A. J. Hall, S. 0. 
Dyer, L. A. Bosworth, and now of E. R. Thorndike. Superin- 
tendents have been F. H. Putnam, 0. H. Hill, G. A. Bullock, A. 
G. Dickenson, and S. W. Pierce. The society had just com- 
pleted a house of worship in 186^, but was left, by the enter- 
prise, with a burdensome debt on its hands. It has, at last, suc- 
ceeded in getting the portion of this burden, which yet remains 
unpaid, guaranteed by individual members of the society, and of 
other churches in the place. 

Measures looking to the establishment of an Episcopal Church 
were instituted in 1871, regular services being commenced in that 
year, under the charge of Rev. B. F. Cooley, as a resident mis- 
sionary. St. Philip's Parish was organized April 10, 1871, 
twenty voters of the town being chosen associates. In March, 
1872, Mr. Cooley resigned, and next month. Rev. Lewis Green, 
then and now of Ashfield, took his place. In April, 1872, the 
record showed fifty-six families, forty-nine communicants, and 
from eighty to one hundred at the Sunday services. Mr. Green 



REV. WILLIAM BEMENT. 63 

resigned in the Spring of 1873, whereupon services were sus- 
pended until Autumn. Then the work of the parish was resumed, 
and has since continued, under the direction of Rev. J. Sturgis 
Pearce, Rector of St. John's Clmrch, Northampton. Since that 
time, a Sunday afternoon service has been held in the Lower 
Town Hall. The society has secured a desirable site, and is pre- 
paring to soon erect a modest chapel for its use. The wardens 
are N. W. Farrar and James Butterworth, the first of whom is 
superintendent of a Sabbath-school numbering thirty-five chil- 
dren. Maj. H. E. Alvord is parish clerk. 

Before leaving the religious for the secular, mention ought to be 
made of the recent death, at the age of seventy, of Rev. William 
Bement, the second minister of our place, and the last who was, 
during his entire ministry here, pastor of the whole people. 
From October 16, 1833, to April 1, 1850, he labored here with 
gi;eat zeal and wisdom, and with eminent success; and became 
greatly endeared to his people, whom, in turn, he regarded with 
an abiding affection quite remarkable for its intensity — an affec- 
tion which separation never quenched. He left here to accept a 
call to the church in Elmira, N. Y., to which now, for many 
years. Rev. Thomas K. Beecher has been ministering. In El- 
mira, he " at once commanded the highest respect of the entire 
community, as a well trained, sound, scriptural preacher of the 
Gospel ; and as a faithful, attentive, and most acceptable j^astor." 

He felt parish and pulpit responsibilities with unusual keen- 
ness ; and, in consequence, under his arduous duties, his health 
so far gave way as to compel resignation of his charge, after four 
years' service. After rest, however, he was, for some five years, 
minister to the Southport Presbyterian Church, where he did a 
valuable work. Afterwards, for a while, he was superintendent 
of schools in Elmira, and Secretary of the Board of Education. 
" To this work he brought excellent scholarship, sound judgment, 
and unwearying industry." Finally his health gave way, and he 
suffered periods of great mental depression. 

In the hope to counteract these evils, he removed to Jersey City, 
where he engaged in business. His overwrought brain, however, 
still gave him occasional trouble, and, early in August last — it is 
supposed in a paroxysm of pain — he left his home and wandered 
to the upper part of New York City, to the grounds of the Con- 
vent of the Sacred Heart. Here, all alone with God, like Moses 
upon Mount Nebo, he died. Days afterwards the lifeless body 



64 HON. SAMUEL WILLISTON. 

was found by the sisters, the head resting upon the hand. Thus 
a noble life came to an end ; and it matters now but little to him, 
that he died unattended and alone. No doubt angels were in 
waiting, to convoy him to the home of the ransomed. His body 
received burial in Elmira. His name will be long held in hon- 
ored remembrance among the people of his first love. 

The mention of death is a reminder that the last decade has 
closed the mortal career of quite a number of our fellow citizens. 
Though all were missed from their accustomed circles, none of 
them left so great a vacancy as that occasioned by the death of 
Hon. Samuel Williston ; of whom simple justice requires that it 
should be said, that he contributed, very largely, to make East- 
hampton what it is to-day. The story of his life needs not here 
to be told. It is "known and read of all men." It has been in 
part told in previous sketches of the history of the town and sem- 
inary, in sundry other published sketches, and more fully in Prpf. 
Tyler's admirable commemorative discourse. 

Reference will hereafter be made to his last great business en- 
terprise. To the management of that he devoted his latest years. 
Far on towards the close of his long life, it was his wont to dri^'e 
daily to his office, and there to spend hours in oversight of his 
extended operations. Little by little, however, his powers of 
body gave way ; and the time came when he must leave his busi- 
ness for other hands, and leave his plans for other executors, and 
go to his God. A growing assurance of his acceptance with God 
comforted his last days; though for very many years he had 
looked to Christ as his Saviour. " I think I am going through 
safe; indeed, I think I may say I know I am." ''If there is 
anything I hate it is sin ; and I know I love the Lord Jesus 
Christ and his cause." These were some of his latest utterances. 

He died Saturday, July 18th, 1874 ; and was buried Monday, 
July 20th, from his own house. This was filled with his relatives 
and distinguished strangers ; while those among whom his life 
was led, gathered in large concourse upon the lawn about the 
doors and windows, in expression of their sympathy and sense 
of loss, and to do honor to his memory. In their midst, upon the 
lawn, rested the burial casket. Suitable Scripture selections were 
read by Kev. A. M. Colton, and a brief but touching address was 
made by his pastor. Rev. Dr. Seelye, who also offered prayer. 
Deacons of the two churches, in which he had been a deacon, 
acted as pall-bearers while the remains were borne to the place 



HON. SAMUEL WILLISTON. 65 

of burial. A commemorative discourse was delivered by Prof. W. 
S. Tyler, D. J)., in the Payson Cliurcli, on Sunday, September 
13th, the whole town uniting in the service. 

By his business enterprise, Mr. Williston — not, of course, with- 
out capable associates — built a town ; established a group of per- 
manent industries; and gave employment to thousands, year 
after year. In doing this, he acquired a large property; but, 
though he had the means, he was never guilty of lavish personal 
expenditure. The great bulk of his acquisitions was devoted to 
uses which would be of public benefit. Nor did he ambitiously 
allow his property to accumulate, to be divided at death ; but 
charitably appropriated about $1,000,000 during his life time. 
With this he founded Williston Seminary; saved Amherst Col- 
lege from ruin, aiding it in repeated instances ; and gave largely 
to Iowa College, Mount Hol3'oke Female Seminar}^, and the Syr- 
ian Protestant College at Beirut. 

Though his fortune was especially devoted to educational uses, 
religion was, in his mind, alwaj'S associated with education ; and 
that he never forgot the church, is proven by numerous gifts for 
religious purposes, both at home and abroad. The same devotion 
to public interests characterized his final division of his estate. 
Though he provided amply for the wants of those whom he had 
taken to his heart, yet the greater portion of his property was 
still consecrated to learning. At his death, his estate, less his 
debts, was valued at about $800,000. Of this sum he gave, 
by will, to Mrs. Williston $110,000; to his adopted children, 
$125,000; to numerous friends and benevolent institutions, 
$56,000; to Iowa College, $20,000; and to Williston Semi- 
nary, $400,000 ; leaving the balance, if any remained, to Am- 
herst College. His heart was set upon a generous gift to the 
latter, but as so much of his estate was manufacturing property, 
it is feared that nothing will remain for it. 

The homestead given to Mrs. Williston, and valued at $50,000, 
she has given to Williston Seminary, after her decease, provided 
at least one of the permanent buildings is placed upon the 
grounds, and the whole is kept for the use of the seminary. 

With Mr. Williston were associated, in his early life, Revs. 
Luther Wright and Solomon Lyman, then j'oung men looking for- 
ward, like himself, to professional life; but not like him destined 
to be thwarted in their designs. Mr. Williston was the last of the 
three to pass away, though the same decade closed the life of all, 
9 



66 DEATH OF CITIZENS. 

in their native town, Mr, Wright had the privilege, after teach- 
ing successfully elsewhere, of aiding his friend in the establish- 
ment of the seminary ; being its first principal, and holding that 
position some eight years. For many years after that, he taught 
a private classical school here. Mr. Lyman, after a useful and 
earnest life work in several pastorates, came to his native place 
to spend his remaining days. These two were associated with 
the church of their fathers, Mr, Wright as a deacon, and were 
valued helpers there. Other citizens, whose deaths have occurred 
in this decade, are the writer's father, Daniel F. Lyman, a friend 
of all these, though younger, a staunch and true man every way, 
an eartiest worker in the church; Capt, Ebenezer Ferry, for a 
long time one of the three storekeepers here, for twenty years 
postmaster, for twenty-one years town clerk, well known by all 
town people and by many successive classes of students ; Samuel 
Wright, an old time schoolmaster of repute, one of the early town 
clerks and school committee men of the town ; L, Pyncheon Ly- 
man, a thriving business man in the line of lumber and grain, 
who held some public trusts; John H, Wells, for many years a 
principal merchant of the town ; George S, Clark, until his death 
accountant of the Nashawannuck Company and influential in 
town affairs ; Lucas W, Hannum, who returned to his native 
place late in life, and entered into its affairs with much interest ; 
Sidney Ferry, Capt, Luke and Lowell Janes, Joel Parsons, Au- 
gustus Clapp, Dwight and Dennis Lyman, and Zenas, Theodore 
and Gilbert A, Clark, — all these, representatives of ancient fami- 
lies of the town, sons of sires honorably associated with its past, 
and themselves bearing their lot in their day and generation, some 
of them in their time filling important public station either in 
town or church. These, and perhaps others whose names do not 
occur to the writer, have passed from participation in human 
affairs, to the awards of the future life. And we who remain are 
each awaiting our turn. 

One who passed away not long before the opening of the decade 
now in review, was Ezekiel White, a man not eqvialed in the 
county, except by Sylvester Judd, as an antiquarian. His library 
was scattered by public auction, some of it, however, falling into 
appreciative hands. His volumes were largely freighted, upon 
their margins and by inserted slips of paper, with valuable his- 
torical and genealogical notes, in his beautiful hand. It would 
be well worth the effort of the Museum Committee, if they could 



WILLISTON SEMINARY. 67 

secure custody of any of his manuscripts which have not been 
scattered. 

Among those who have taken up their residence elsewhere, 
perhaps no one will be more greatly missed than Seth Warner. 
He was thoroughly identified with the town's manufacturing 
growth; a public spirited and influential citizen; a long time 
and valued church officer ; and a musical expert whose leadership 
has wrought most excellent results. 

WILLISTON SEMINAEY. 

Williston Seminary, which, more than anything else, makes 
our town known throughout the land, is prosperous as of yore ; 
and, with enlarged scope and increased endowments, is planning 
for a future of even greater than her past degree of usefulness. 
Ten years ago. North Hall, the dormitory occupying the former 
site of the First Church, was approaching completion. An as- 
tronomical observatory has since been built. The grounds on the 
street fronts have been enclosed with a substantial and tasteful 
iron fence, and fronted with a sidewalk of flagging. 

During the administration of Rev. Dr. Henshaw, which closed 
with his resignation of the ofiice of principal at the end of the 
last school year, the institution has enjoyed a high degree of 
prosperity. Its progress has been, especially, in the enlarged 
facilities it has offered for the acquisition of an English educa- 
tion. The scientific department has been reorganized, and given 
increased dignity as compared with the classical. 

One of the memorable events which fell within Principal 
Henshaw's administration, was the celebration of the Quarter 
Centennial, which was held on Anniversary week, July 2, 1867. 
There was a large attendance of graduates and former pupils. 
Rev. R. S. Storrs, D. D., of Brooklj'^n, a former teacher, was ap- 
pointed President of the day. The literary exercises of the oc- 
casion took place in the Payson Church, whither the alumni 
repaired after an address of welcome by the Principal. A histor- 
ical address was delivered by Prof. William S. Tyler, D. D., of 
Amherst College, the adviser and trusted friend of the founder, 
during the whole history of the institution. Rev. N. Adams, 
D. D., of Boston, in praj-er, dedicated the completed buildings to 
the promotion of learning and religion. An oration was pro- 
nounced by Prof. Cyrus Northrop, of Yale College. Dinner had 
been spread in the M. E. Church, and was eaten with a relish. 



68 WILLISTON ALUMNI RECORD. 

At its close, the audience listened, with great interest, to an 
address from the President of the day, who was followed by 
Presidents Woolsey of Yale, and Stearns of Amherst, Revs. 
Luther Wright, and Josiah Clark, former Principals, Prof. North- 
rop, Gen. F. A. Walker, and others. The exercises of the mem- 
orable day were brought to a close by the reading of a poem, by 
C. H. Sweetser, Esq., of New York. 

This gathering of alumni left, as its legacy, an incipient Alumni 
Association, which still lives and grows. It has done something 
towards the cultivation of an esprit die corps among graduates. 
It has meetings each Anniversary week, with a public address 
from some distinguished alumnus. Addresses have been deliv- 
ered by Rev. H. Clay Trumbull, Prof. Judson Smith, Rev. H. 
M. Parsons, C. D. Adams, Esq., Judge William S. Shurtleff, and 
Col. Mason W. Tyler. On one occasion, a poem was delivered 
by Rev. Albert Bryant. 

One of the most valuable results of this organization, has been 
the publication of an Alumni Record. This society urged the mat- 
ter upon the trustees, who readily favored the project, appointed a 
co-operating committee, and voted to defray the expense. The 
matter was finally put into the hands of Rev. Joseph H. Sawyer, 
for several years a teacher in the seminary. With painstaking 
and great labor, and with the co-operation of various class secreta- 
ries, he succeeded, at length, in bringing out a most satisfactory 
record. It gives the addresses, and, in most cases, a brief sketch 
of the life, of trustees and teachers, and of one thousand four 
hundred and fifty-five male students ; an index of the full num- 
ber; the Roll of Honor; and a list of female teachers and stu- 
dents, with their present address and name. From this record, 
it appears that, at the time of publication in 1875, there had 
been connected with the seminary five thousand one hundred 
and sixty-six male, and one thousand and seventy-seven female 
students ; total, six thousand two hundred and forty-three. Of 
these, the whole number reckoned alumni is one thousand one hun- 
dred and seventeen. Mr. Sawyer was able to report more or less 
fully concerning two thousand four hundred and ninety-four per- 
sons. Of these, five hundred and twelve had already received a 
college education, two hundred and five at Yale, one hundred and 
sixty-two at Amherst, and seventy-eight at Williams. Seventy- 
two were then in college. Eighty-eight more had graduated at 
professional or scientific schools. Of these, one hundred and sixty- 



PRESENT PLANS AND ORGANIZATION. 69 

seven had chosen the clerical, one hundred and seventy-four the 
legal, and eighty the medical professions ; while seventy-seven 
were teachers, fifteen journalists, and twenty-five civil engineers. 
The Roll of Honor shows nine generals, sixteen colonels, fourteen 
majors, thirteen chaplains, twenty-seven surgeons, thirty-six cap- 
tains, forty-one lieutenants, and two hundred and thirty non-com- 
missioned officers and privates. Of these, forty-nine died in bat- 
tle, or from exposure. 

In 1873, the seminar}^ held property which was rated at 
$270,000. In addition, the founder, by his will, left it a mu- 
nificent endowment. Upon the settlement of the estate, it is to 
receive $200,000. In a few years thereafter, $100,000 more ; 
and ultimately, $300,000 additional. 

Mr. Williston's purpose was to establish neither a college, nor 
a professional school ; but a secondary institution far superior 
to any now existing. To this end, the departments are to be 
divided into distinct professorships, to be filled by men of ability', 
scholarly culture, and of experience in instruction, whose duties 
are not to be so arduous as to prevent, and whose compensation 
shall be sufficient to allow, special studj' and research by each in 
his own department. 

It is intended that the classical department shall not only give 
a most thorough fit for college ; but also afford sound basis for im- 
mediate professional study, if the pupil chooses. Thorough instruc- 
tion will be given in the common English branches ; and also in 
the modern languages, with reference both to reading and conver- 
sation therein. " In the scientific department, young men are to 
be instructed in all the branches of science, literature, and phi- 
losophy, of a college course ; and also in business forms and 
methods, in drawing and designing, and in architecture." 

The vacancy, occasioned by the resignation of Principal Hen- 
shaw, has been filled by the appointment of Eev. James M. 
Whiton, Ph. D., a classical instructor of high repute, who was 
taken from the pastoral office in Lynn. Into his hands, with 
that of an able corps of associates, under the supervision of the 
trustees, will be committed the realization of the ideals of the 
founder. A part of the old board of teachers has been retained 
for the new administration, and other able men have been associ- 
ated with them. In addition to the principal, who instructs in 
Latin, the faculty at present consists of the following persons, 
who give instruction in the branches subjoined to their names : 



70 WILLISTON MILLS. 

Eobert P. Keep, Ph. D., Greek; Charles F. Eastman, M. A., 
Latin and Greek ; Rosvvell Parish, M. A., Physics ; Russell M. 
Wright, M. A., Natural History; Joseph H. Sawyer, M. A., 
Mental Science and History; Maj. Henry E. Alvord, C. E., Gym- 
nastics and Engineering ; Charles A. Lador, M. A., Modern Lan- 
guages ; George Y. Washburn, B. A., Elocution, 

BUSINESS. 

When the " History of Eastliampton " was published, Mr. 
Williston had shortly before undertaken the greatest business 
enterprise of his life. The manufacture of cotton yarns had re- 
sulted so favorably as to encourage a great enlargement of the 
business; and he was, at that time, vigorously pushing to com- 
pletion a mill, Avith a capacity of 20,000 spindles — twice that of 
the first mill. It was to be run by steam — a Corliss engine of 
240 horse power. A corporation was formed wdth the title, "The 
Williston Mills," which had a paid up capital of $700,000. For 
a time at least it employed from 400 to 500 ^Jersons, with a pay roll 
of $9,000, and a sales account of $50,000 to $60,000 per month, 
and owned a village of 160 tenements (mostly only two under one 
roof), a store and a large boarding-house. To this enterprise Mr. 
Williston, who was the principal owner, gave the last years of his 
life, relinquishing to the hands of others the management of the 
industries of the upper village, in which he still retained his inter- 
est. His attempt in the new factory was to establish the manu- 
facture of all grades of spool cotton for hand and machine sewing. 
With great energy and will he persevered in his undertaking, 
and, for several years, turned out thread in large quantities. 
But the competition was so sharp, and the difficulties and em- 
barrassments of the work and of the times were so great, that the 
enterprise failed to be remunerative ; and, indeed, was prosecuted 
at so heavy a loss as greatly to cripple Mr. Williston, and sadly 
to disappoint his hopes as to the amount of money he was able to 
leave behind him for educational purposes, although, as it was, 
his bequests were princely. 

At last he abandoned the manufacture of thread, and confined 
his efforts to the manufacture of cotton yarns. In this there has 
been better success. On account of the shrinkage of values, and 
the ill success of the undertaking, the capital of the corporation 
was reduced to $350,000 where it now stands. 



THE UPPER VILLAGE. 71 

The other manufacturing corporations have continued their 
business with varying, but on the whole with gratifying success. 
They have suffered at least no more than their share in the de- 
pression of the times, and have not been compelled to curtail 
operations to any disastrous extent. 

The oldest concern, the National Button Company, has enlarged 
its capacity fully 50 per cent, in ten 3^ears, the mills being now 
capable of turning out 2,000 gross daily. In its business it em- 
ploys a quarter of a million or more, though its nominal capital is 
but $150,000. Its President is its long-time manager, Hon. H. 
G. Knight, and its Secretary, H. L. Clark. 

The Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company has a capital of 
$300,000, and a capacity of 4,000 dozen pairs of suspenders a 
week. Its officers are Christopher Meyer, President ; Hon. E. 
H. Sawyer, Treasurer ; G. H. Leonard, Superintendent. 

The Glendale Elastic Fabrics Company has a capital of 
$100,000, though it employs twice that, and annually turns out 
products to the value of $250,000 to $300,000. E. H. Sawyer, 
President ; M. H. Leonard, Secretary. 

The Easthampton Rubber Thread Company met with a severe 
reverse in the burning of their mill on the night of July 12, 1869, 
at a loss of $135,000, with an insurance of $70,000. A new mill 
was, however, ready for operation in five months. It is as ca- 
pacious as the old one, though with one less story. The company 
employ a capital of $150,000, consume in manufactures from 
200,000 to 250.000 pounds of pure rubber per year, and do an 
annual business of from $200,000 to $250,000. H. G. Knight, 
President ; E. T. Saw3'er, Secretary and Treasurer. 

The Easthampton Gas Company does a thriving business with 
$25,000 capital, making two and a half million feet of gas yearly. 
Officers are E. T. Sawyer, President; H. L. Clark, Treasurer; 
C. B. Johnson, Clerk. 

The Valley Machine Company was formed in 1870. It suc- 
ceeded the Easthampton Steam Pump and Engine Company, (of 
which Mr. Williston, James Sutherland and Dr. J. W. Winslow 
were the members.) It also purchased the business of the 
Nashawannuck Company's machine shop. The pump which the 
earlier company was making not proving a success, a new one 
was taken up, which is succeeding admirably-. It is Wright's 
Bucket Plunger, patented by William Wright of New York, 
though greatly improved by the present manufacturers, who claim 



72 THE UPPER VILLAGE. 

that it is now " the most simple, compact, and reliable steam 
pump ever offered to the public." At the Fair of the American 
Institute in New York, in 1870, it was rated superior to all con- 
testants in order of merit, being considered " as effective as the 
best of the four valve double-acting pumps, with the advantage of 
having but two water valves, instead of four, to keep in order or 
cause trouble." The company at first received a charter, but sur- 
rendered it in 1873, and organized on a partnership basis with 
John Mayher as Treasurer and General Manager. A capital of 
$30,000 is employed. The pump has had good sale and given great 
satisfaction. The company propose soon to erect a foundry. 

In November, 1866, J. L. Bassett bought the sawmill property 
on Manhan river, for many years owned by L. P. Lyman, and 
began the manufacture of spools and bobbins, supplying the Wil- 
liston Mills with these articles. After being burned out in 1868, 
he rebuilt, and then went into the manufacture of thread, in which 
he has ever since continued. The business is conducted by a 
corporation, organized September, 1873, and styled ''The Mt. 
Tom Thread Company," with a capital of $55,000. J. L. Bassett 
is President, and J. I. Bassett Secretary and Treasurer. About 
thirty hands are employed, and a business of $65,000 to $75,000 
a year is done. They buy yarn, which is mostly imported, and 
dye, twist, and spool it. It is an excellent thread, mostly for 
machine use, put up in two ounce spools, and it goes chiefly to 
the clothing and shoe trade. 

The National Button Company, the Nashawannuck, the Glen- 
dale, the Rubber Thread and the Valley Machine, each made an 
exhibit of their goods at the Centennial Exposition, and each re- 
ceived a medal as a testimonial of the excellence of their products. 

Other institutions connected with the business of the place, are 
the First National Bank and the Easthampton Savings Bank. 
The former was organized- in 1864, with a cajDital of $150,000, 
which has been increased to $200,000. Hon. H. G. Knight is 
president, and C. E. Williams cashier. An efficient board of 
directors co-operate in the management. Dividends have averaged 
9 per cent, per annum. A surplus of $40,000 has accumulated. 
In its whole history, the bank has lost only $125, which is a fact 
without a parallel in the State. Some five years since a bank 
building was erected at a cost of about $20,000, which is a model 
structure for a country bank, being most tasteful and convenient, 
and having a very solidly built vault. 



TRADES TOWN OFFICERS. 73 

The Savings Bank, which was organized June 7, 1870, finds 
quarters in the same apartment. Cashier Williams is its Treas- 
urer, and Hon. E. H. Sawyer President. ' It already has a deposit 
account of $5182,721, three-quarters of which belongs to the towns- 
people. Besides its annual dividend of six per cent., it has paid 
three or four extra dividends. 

There is no space to speak at length of the persons engaged in 
the trades and mercantile business of the town. Ten years have 
brought extensive changes ; though, of those who were chronicled 
in 1866, as doing our mercantile business, L. Preston, A. J. Ly- 
man, F. H. Putnum, J. E. Lambie and C. S. Rust, are still thus 
engaged. Of the tradesmen who were then active and are so 
still, E. R. Bosworth does the building, T. J. Pomeroy the under- 
taking, G. L. Manchester the steam and gas fitting, O. N. Clark 
and Wm. J. Lyman the carriage work, Wm. E. Topliff and L. 
G. Fales the mason work. Franklin Strong, at Loudville, still 
grinds grain, and E. H. and A. S. Ludden still have to do with 
marketing, H. F. Knapp wdth livery, while C. W. Langdon, then 
a merchant, has gone to flouring, and L. 0. Toogood, then a 
painter, now sells fruits, vegetables, etc. 

In 1686-7, Northampton gave Samuel Bartlett liberty to set 
up a corn-mill " on the falls below the cartway on the river." 
From the time when, shortly after, he used his liberty, to the 
present, the waters of the Manhau have not ceased to grind grain 
on that spot; and during all this time, a part or all the toll has 
been taken by the Bartletts, or their relatives the Clapps. One 
quarter of it is still owned by Edward Clapp, a great grandson of 
Major Jonathan, who received it from his uncle Joseph Bartlett, 
son of Samuel. It has been run five years by J. T. Thayer, who 
has owned three-quarters of it for two years, buying it of Cowles 
& Webster, who bought it of J. Pomeroy, who bought it of the 
heirs of L. P. Lyman, who owned a large share of it in 1866. 

To supplement the previously published lists of town officers, it 
may be stated that C. B. Johnson was Town Clerk from 1865 to 
1870, from which time until this spring, Lafayette Clapp has held 
the office, as he has that of Treasurer, since 1867. The present 
Town Clerk is Lafayette Clapp, Jr. The Selectmen of 1867-8-9, 
were S. Alvord, Q. P. Lyman, L. W. Hannum ; of 1870, S. Al- 
vord, Theo. Clark, A. S. Ludden ; of 1871, G. L. Manchester, 
Theo. Clark, A. S. Ludden, and of five years, beginning in 1872, 
to the present, A. S. Ludden, J. W. Wilson, and H. T. Hannum. 
10 



74 TOWN OFFICEKS. 

The present board are H. J. Bly, A. S. Ludden, and A. P. 
Clark. 

As Assessors during the last ten years, L. D. Lyman and L. 
S. Clark have each served five years, Q. P. Lyman four, A. B. 
Lyman, J. W. Wilson, H. T. Hannum, three each, S. Alvord 
two, and E. M. Lambie, C. A. Clark, M. L. Gaylord, Theo. Clapp 
and A. S. Ludden, one each. The newly elected board are M. H. 
Leonard, A. B. Lyman and S. Alvord. 

The present board of School Committee consists of W. G. Bas- 
sett, W. H. Wright and L. S. Clark. In the last ten years Mr. 
Bassett has had eight years of service, James H. I yman seven, 
making ten in all, M. L. Gaylord six, H. G. Knight two, thus 
completing nine years of consecutive service, R. M. Wright, four 
years, or six in all. L. S. Clark and W. H. Wright, are each on 
their second term of three years. Seth Warner, G. H. Leonard, 
and Miss E. B. Hinckley, have each had a term of three years, 
and Geo. S. Clark of two years. Por a part of this time the town 
appointed a committee of six instead of three, as usual. 

In this connection it may be remarked, that since the establish- 
ment of the High school in -1865, Miss S. E. Chapin has been in 
constant employ at its head. 

The town was represented in the lower house of the Legislature 
in 1866 by Hon. E. H. Sawyer ; in 1870 by Lucas W. Hannum ; 
in 1874 by Wm. G. Bassett ; and in 1876 and 1877 by Lafayette 
Clapp. Hon. E. H. Sawyer served two terms in the Senate, i. e., 
in 1867 and 1868. Hon. H. G. Knight has been twice in the 
Executive Council. At the present time he is honored with the 
office of Lieutenant-Governor of the Commonwealth, being on his 
third term. 

Wm. G. Bassett was appointed Trial Justice in 1869, upon the 
resignation of Seth Warner. He held the office five years until 
1874, when he resigned, and Lafayette Clapp was appointed to 
the vacancy. 

Wm. G. Bassett and E. H. Sawyer are Notaries Public ; Dr. 
J. W. Winslow is Coroner. The following have been appointed 
to the office of Justice of the Peace. The list may not be com- 
plete : Lafayette Clapp, H. G. Knight, E. H. Sawyer, J. H. Bard- 
well, C. E. Williams, W. G. Bassett, A. J. Pargo, L. D. Lyman, 
J. W. Winslow, M. H. Leonard, Bev. R. J. Donovan and Lafay- 
ette Clapp, Jr. J. L. Campbell still holds the office of Deputy- 
Sheriff, and, until recently, has been Tax Collector since 1869, at 



POST OFFICE — PIOTEL STATISTICS. 75 

which time he succeeded E. W. Clark. His last term A. B. 
Ljman filled out. L. L. Wright now holds the office. 

Wm. G. Bassett and A. J. Fargo are settled here in the prac- 
tice of law. Drs. J. W. Winslow and F, C. Greene continue the 
practice of medicine, the former of whom has lately associated 
with himself Dr. Wm. M. Trow, who moA'ed hither from a suc- 
cessful practice in Haydenville. Dr. C. R. Upson, a homeopathic 
physician, resides near Mt. Tom Station, practicing here and in 
Springfield. 

J. H. Bardwell is in his sixteenth year in the post office. The 
total receipts of the office for the last year were ^5,500. Proba- 
bly 150,000 letters are now, mailed here j-early. This is a money 
order office, both domestic and foreign. Foreign orders have been 
issued since 1872, and domestic since 1866, in which period about 
10,750 orders have been given out. The office is now rated by 
the post-office department as of the second class, and, in the 
county, ranks next after Northampton and Amherst in im|3or- 
tance. The salary it commands is $2,200. 

Few Easthampton institutions have had a more variable history 
than its hotel ; but in the last decade it has acquired something 
more of permanence, under the efficient and popular management 
of William Hill, formerly of the Mansion House, Northampton. 
The property he bought May 1, 1869, and changed the style of 
the hotel to the Mansion House. In 1870 he added a story to 
the main building, in the shape of a mansard roof, greatly im- 
proving its appearance. In 1871 he built a three-story extension 
in the rear, 8Ux40 feet. He can easily accommodate 100 guests, 
and has cared for 150. He has doubled the capacity of the house 
and more than quadrujiled its business, receiving much jiatronage, 
during the summer season, from cit}'' guests. Much has been 
said, though not too much, in praise of Mr. Hill's excellent man- 
agement. He keeps a thoroughly temperance house, being him- 
self an ardent friend of this great reform. 

From the census of 1875, it appeared that the town had a 
population of 3,969, which was a gain of 349 in five years, and of 
1,100 in ten. The number of families is 730. The assessors re- 
ported the valuation, May 1, 1876, f 2,274,449, the number of 
taxable polls 790, and of dwelling-houses 626. The tax levied 
in 1876, was $30,872, the rate being $12.25 per thousand. Of 
this the town received from the corporations within it $9,974, 
besides its share of the State corporation tax. One individual pays 



7G TOWN HALL. 

a tax of over f 1,000, two over $300, nineteen over $100, and 
426 only a poll tax. The town's highest indebtedness, $81,200, 
was reported February 1, 1872, the greater part of the debt being 
caused by the war expenses, and the building of the Town Hall. 
Since that time there has been a steady reduction. The total 
debt is now $39,719.20; or only .017 per cent, of the town's 
valuation, a proportion lower than can be shown by almost any 
town in the State. Deducting from the present debt the available 
resources of the town, the Treasurer reports a net indebtedness 
of only $29,828.46, which is matter for just pride, considering the 
many improvements which have been made at public expense. 

Chief among these improvements should be mentioned the Town 
Hall. Its erection was voted in the fall of 1867. The building 
committee consisted of Seth Warner, E. H. Sawyer, H. G. Knight, 
L. W. Hannum, E. R. Bosworth, and L. D. Lyman. The founda- 
tion was begun in April, 1868. The corner stone was laid July 
4, 1868. The building was readj^ for occupation by June, 1869. 

One of the most notable days in the history of the town was 
that of its dedication, Tuesday, June 29, 1869. A large proces- 
sion, led by the Haydenville Band, and under chief direction of 
Capt. F. A. Rust, moved through the principal streets, and 
escorted the orator and distinguished guests to the Hall. The 
soldiers of the war, under command of Capt. J. A. Loomis 
and Lieutenants J. H. Judd and H. H. Strong, were in attend- 
ance. The exercises at the Hall were in the following order : — 
After an overture by the Germania Band, Hon. H. G. Knight, of 
the committee of arrangements, introduced Hon. Samuel Wil- 
liston. President of the day, who made a few remarks, after 
which a prayer of dedication was offered by Rev. A. M. Colton. 
The keys were presented by Seth Warner, in behalf of the build- 
ing committee, to L. D. Lyman, of the committee to be in 
charge of the Hall. The principal feature of the occasion was 
the admirable address by Hon. Ensign H. Kellogg of Pittsfield. 
Brief remarks by Lieut. Gov. Tucker, closed the dedicatory 
services. The day was one of the finest, and an immense assem- 
blage participated in the exercises. A concert was given in the 
evening by Miss Adelaide Phillips of Boston, and eighteen mem- 
bers of the Germania Band. It was a rare musical treat, and 
was enjoyed by fully 1,100 people. A promenade concert was 
also held on the following evening. 

The Hall is in the Lombard style of architecture, is of brick 



MEMORIAL TOWER. 77 

laid in black mortar, and its height is relieved by bands of Port- 
land stone. The front is especially ornate. It is very hand- 
somely finished, both without and within. Its ground dimensions 
are 104 by 60 feet, exclusive of the towers. At the north corner 
is a tower 75 feet in height ; and at the south corner the Memorial 
Tower, 12 feet square and 133 feet high, which has near its summit 
an ornamental projecting balcony, affording a fine outlook. Upon 
its front, near the base, it supports a memorial tablet of white 
Italian marble, 12 feet in height, decorated on either side with col- 
umns of black marble. It ends at the top in a triangular block, 
surmounted by a cross. It bears upon its face the inscription : — 
" Easthampton erects this tower, a memorial to these her sons, who 
died for their country, during the great rebellion." Then follow 
the names of the honored dead, twenty-two in number. Of these, 
jVIaj. Gen. George C. Strong was killed at Fort Wagner, S. C. ; 
William Hickey, at Camp Bisland, La. ; Daniel W. Lyman, at 
Port Hudson, La. ; Charles Tencellent, at Olustee, Fla. ; and Ro- 
land S. Williston, at Culpepper C. H., Va. ; Alvin W. Clark, 
Oliver A. Clark, Rufus Robinson, Ezra 0. Spooner, Frederick P. 
Stone, and Charles Rensselaer, died in Andersonville, Ga. ; 
Clinton Bates and Charles L. Webster, at Baton Rouge, La. ; 
Elisha C. Lyman and Henry Lyman, at Newbern, N. C. ; James 
H. Clark, at Alexandria, Va. ; Augustus M. Clapp, at Nashville, 
Tenn. ; Daniel Kane, at Fredericksburg, Va. ; Salmon H. Lyman, 
at Davis Island Hospital ; Herbert W. Poraeroy, at Plaquemine, 
La. ; Lewis P. Wait and Chauncey R. Hendrick, at home. 

The first story of the building contains a small hall and rooms 
for the town officers, and for the public library, with ample cor- 
ridors and stairways leading to the spacious upper hall. This is 
capable of seating 1,100. The entire cost of the structure was 
165,000. The tablet cost $2,000. The architect was Mr. Chas. 

E. Parker of Boston, and the builder E. R. Bosworth. The 
masonry was supervised by George P. Shoales, and the painting by 

F. J. Gould. The elaborate frescoing was done by William Carl 
of Boston. A more complete description can be found in the 
published account of the dedicatory exercises. 

While the hall was in process of erection, the Public Library 
Association was organized with corporate powers, Hon. E. H. Saw- 
yer, its earnest advocate, securing the charter. The town appro- 
priated two large rooms in the hall for its use, and has made it an 
annual grant of $500. Private donations have also been made. 



78 PUBLIC LIBRARY MUSEUM. 

the chief of which have been $1,000 each from Mr. Williston and 
Mr. Sawyer, and $500 each from Christopher Meyer, John E.. Ford, 
and James Sutherland. Thirty five persons have made^ them- 
selves life members by the payment of $50 each. Any citizen of 
the town can consult the books freely at the library, and can 
withdraw them on payment of one dollar per year. There are at 
present 320 subscribers, besides the life members. The whole 
number of books is 4,995. There were drawn last year 13,918 
books. This fact alone shows that it is a great public benefit. 
Miss Dora C. Miller has been the librarian from the outset, and 
her services have been invaluable. The present ofiicers are E. 
H. Sawyer, President ; H. G. Knight, Vice-President ; W. G. 
Bassett, Secretary ; C. E. Williams, Treasurer ; K.ev. S. T. 
Seelye, Eev. A. M. Colton, Lafayette Clapp and E. T. Sawyer, 
Directors. 

The laws of the State empower Library Associations, if they so 
choose, to establish and maintain Museums. Our Association un- 
dertook the enterprise early in 1872, putting the matter into the 
hands of C. B. Johnson, H. N. Rust and Lafayette Clapp, who 
Soon had it in successful progress. The two former have made 
extensive private collections, and on that account were especially 
well fitted for the duty assigned them. The Committee, to which 
L. D. Lyman was added on the departure of Mr. Rust, have 
worked with enthusiasm ; and, with the co-operation of others, 
have been able to make a most valuable collection. The articles 
are displayed in the library reception room, and constitute a 
feature of decided interest, both to citizens and strangers. Many 
relics of the late war, and other rare and curious articles, have 
been collected. Some of these are illustrative of local history ; 
others of antique customs, or of the habits of uncivilized people. 
Hon. E. H. Sawyer has been a steadfast friend of the work, giving 
to it some $300 at the start. He, with Mr. Rust of the Committee, 
Dr. Seelye and George S. Clark, have been the most exten- 
sive depositors. Space and time are wanting to mention the 
articles in detail. There are muskets, swords, knives, and other 
relics of the war, as, e. g., a piece of a rail from the field of An- 
tietam, riddled with bullets ; a bust of John Brown, and one of his 
pikes; a case of stuffed birds, the work of David M. Strangford; 
a collection of sea shells; curiosities from the South Sea Islands; 
and other articles. Some of the articles have a local association, 
such as a set of table glasses, used about 1740, by Maj. Jonathan 



MUSEUM FIllE DEPARTMENT. 79 

Clapp ; the bullet pouch that saved the life of Lemuel Lyman at 
Lake George, September 8, 1755 ; the deed of School Meadow, 
executed in 1745, by the agents of the town of Northampton, to 
Dea. Stephen Wright and Benjamin L^'man, ancestors of the 
Wrights and Lymans of the town ; a musket made by Moses 
Chapman and carried by Nathaniel White in the Revolution ; 
Rev. Mr. Williston's license to preach, signed by Jonathan Ed- 
wards ; his corner clock, and an oil painting of him, presented by 
Mrs. Emily G. AVilliston ; also an oil portrait of Rev. Wm. 
Bement, painted by S^-lvester S. Lyman of Hartford, (a native of 
the town,) and in jjart donated by him. Besides the portraits, 
the walls are adorned by several fine engravings. The Museum 
Committee have a wide field from which to gather, and it is much 
to be hoped that the people will co-operate with them, by placing 
in their custody articles of historic value, which otherwise might 
be lost to the public. Also that the}^ may be furnished with the 
means to obtain portraits of Hon. Samuel Williston, and of other 
representative men. If they could in any way secure photographic 
likenesses of those whose names are upon the tablet, their careful 
preservation w^ould be a patriotic work. 

Among the public improvements should be mentioned the lay- 
ing of nearly five miles of concrete sidewalk, at an average cost 
of some twelve dollars per rod. Few towns are so thoroughly 
supplied with sidewalk as is this. 

There is also a regularly organized and thoroughly equipped 
fire department, of which E. T. Sawyer is chief, and E. R. Bos- 
worth and Wm. Hill, assistants. Pipes have been laid through 
the principal streets (in all 6,500 feet of iron pipe) with hydrants 
at proper intervals. There are at the upper mills no less than 
five pumps, each connecting with these pipes and capable of forc- 
ing water through the village. One is a Bucket Plunger steam 
pump of the largest size, owned by the town. There are two 
other steam pumps, and two rotary pumps run by water power, 
which are owned by the corporations. In case of fire, force can 
be instantly applied sufficient to lift a stream of water over any 
building within reach of a hydrant. The Williston Mills village 
is protected in the same way by a pump at each mill. Several of 
the corporations have trained hose companies, and there is be- 
sides in the town a hose company, a hook and ladder company, 
and the old Manhan engine companj', all of which forces are 
under the command of the fire engineers. 



80 CEMETERIES. 

Another noteworthy improvement is the laying out of Brook- 
side Cemetery. As early as 1870, the cemetery committee called 
the attention of the town to the fact that, though there were fre- 
quent calls for burial lots, no more were available. The matter 
was not taken in hand till the following year, and, though a com- 
mittee examined locations and prices, consulted as to plans, and 
reported progress from time to time, no full and definite recom- 
mendations came before the town from then till June 9, 1873. 
At that time they reported a preliminary survey of land border- 
ing the pond at the upper village on its w^est side, and owned by 
Mrs. Willi ston, J. D. Ludden, J. P. Searl, Edson White and the 
heirs of Daniel Rust, 2d, and recommended the purchase of a 
suitable amount of land, the building of a bridge across the j)ond 
near the Nashawannuck ofiice, and the construction of a road. 
The town voted to adopt the plan recommended, and provided a 
sum of money for the purpose. Ernest W. Bowdich of Boston, a 
civil and topographical engineer, made the final survey, beginning 
his work Oct. 27, 1873. This gentleman, with extensive acquaint- 
ance, declares that he knows no more finely located cemetery in 
'Western Massachusetts, than is this. It has been named Brook- 
side Cemetery, from its proximity to the water which adds greatl}^ 
to its beauty. To interest the people in the enterprise, and to 
familiarize them with the location, a general invitation was given 
them to come together Nov. 5, 1873, and construct an avenue 
upon it. About 150 responded to the call. The cemetery, exclu- 
sive of the enclosing avenue, contains nearly twenty-nine acres. 
The whole number of lots laid out is 807, of which fifty-seven 
have been sold. There is ample room to increase the number of 
lots to 1,000 if desirable, and still leave spaces for decorative pur- 
poses. The prices range from $6 to $50 per lot. It is now in 
charge of a committee, E. H. Sawyer Chairman, Lafayette Clapp 
Secretary and Treasurer, and E. S. Janes Superintendent ; with 
whom were associated in the early history of the enterprise, A. 
L. Clark, L. D. Lyman, Wm. N. Clapp and R. C. Dresser. The 
whole cost vip to date is not far from $9,800. 

Among Mr. Williston's bequests was one of $10,500 to the 
town for the improvement and care of the cemetery now in prin- 
cipal use. Of this sum, $6,500 was to be a permanent fund for 
keeping the cemetery in repair, and the balance was to be ex- 
pended in constructing an iron fence along the front. A tasteful 
iron fence, with suitable gateways, has been set up as directed, 



KAIL no AD — PliESS — SOCIETIES^ 81 



which adds much to the beauty of the grounds. If the cemetery- 
is ever removed, or the ground used for any other purpose, or if it 
is not kept in repair, the $6,500, with any interest not expended 
for repairs, is to revert to Williston Seminary. Mr. AVilliston 
deserves grateful remembi-ance for this generous bequest. A fine 
granite monument, one of tlie finest in Western Massachusetts, 
has recently been erected on Mr. Williston's private lot in this 
cemetery, at a cost of some $4,000, and the lot itself has been 
tastefully enclosed. 

Increased railroad facilities have been furnished the town by the 
building of a branch from the Mt. Tom Station, on the Connecti- 
cut River railroad, to the village, to a station across the highway 
from the station of the New Haven and Northampton railroad. 
Over this branch the river road runs six trains a day each way, 
connecting with their principal trains, and collecting and deliver- 
ing passengers at the Williston Mills, and at three flag stations 
in East Street. 

In the fall of 1875, H. DeBill started, in connection with a job 
printing oflfice, a weekly news sheet called The Easthampton 
Leader. The first number was issued October 14. Mr. DeBill 
enlarged it twice, and continued it through thirty-three numbers, 
when he sold it to H M. Converse, who changed its name to The 
Enterprise, and still continues its publication, doing along with 
it a job printing business. 

For the sake of fostering and promoting a spirit of taste, and 
aiding in its public expression, a society called The Village Im- 
provement Society, has been recently organized under favorable 
auspices. The Farmers' Club is as vigorous as ever, and enlivens 
the winter evenings b}' discussions and social festivities, at the 
houses of its members. Other organizations are the Easthampton 
Mutual Relief Association, designed to do a life insurance work 
for its members ; the Ionic Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons ; 
the Doric Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a society 
somehow associated with masonry, and open to the mothers, 
wives, sisters and daughters of masons ; the Humboldt Lodge, D. 
0. H., No. 97 ; the Caledonian Thistle Club, and the St. Pat- 
rick's Mutual Benevolent Society, mutual relief societies among 
the Germans, Scotch and Irish, respectively ; a branch of the So- 
ciety of the Grangers ; the Young People's Literary Society ; a 
successful Lyceum ; and a Young People's Temperance organiza- 
tion. 

11 



82 LIST OF COLLEGE GRADUATES. 

To supplement the list of Easthampton College graduates given 
in the History of Easthampton, the following facts may be put 
on record. 

The class of '67 in the Classical Department of Williston Sem- 
inary contained four Easthampton boys. Of these, Henry H. 
Sawyer graduated from Amherst College in 1871, since which 
time he has been in business ; Charles H. Knight, from Williams 
College in 1871, and afterwards from the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons in New York City ; Alvin E. Todd, from Yale in 
1871, and afterwards from Yale Theological Seminary ; Erank 
Warner was two years in Williams College, and afterwards stud- 
ied music a year in Leipsic, Germany. 

Erank E. Sawyer concluded his studies in Williston the same 
year with the four, and went thence to the U. S. Naval Academy 
at Annapolis, where he graduated in 1872. 

George H. Baker graduated at Williston in 1870, and at Am- 
herst College in 1874. A part of the time since he has been 
pursuing historical studies in Germany. 

William B. Sawyer graduated at Williston in 1871, and at 
Amherst in 1875 ; since which time he has pursued the study of 
medicine in New York City. 

Ered M. Leonard is now in Harvard College, and Arthur 
Wainwright is in Amherst. 

Several of the young ladies of Easthampton have pursued ad- 
vanced courses of instruction at Mount Holyoke and elsewhere 
during the last ten years. 

Among these are Misses Eunice A. Lyman and Alice C. Par- 
sons, who graduated at Mt. Holyoke in 1873. Misses Cordelia 
Ferry, Sarah G. Lyman, and Nettie C. Janes have taken partial 
courses there ; and Misses Lizzie M. and Nellie J. Mayher and 
Sarah E. Lyman are at present in that institution. This list 
may not be complete, even as respects Mt. Holyoke ; and cer- 
tainly is not as respects all higher schools. 



INDEX. 



-♦-♦-• ■ 



N. B.— The subjects treated of in the Appendix are indexed under the 
heading. Easthampton. The most important matters are indexed ; but it 
would require too much space to give a full index of names. 
Arnold, expedition to Quebec through Maine, 35. 
Bartlett's Mill, 7. 
Bement, Rev. William, 63. 
Beef for the army, 51. 
) Belchertown's non-consumption agreement, 17 ; She respects the provincial 

f tax levy, 22 ; Agrees to support independence, 29 ; Her Canada soldiers, 

37 ; Appoints and backs a Committee of Safety, 39 ; To whom Capt. 
Lyman complains, 41, 42 ; Her price list, 51, 52. 
Berkshire regiment, Col. Patterson's, 24. 
Breck, Rev. Robert, 28. 
Burgoyne's surrender, 48. 

Clapp, Maj. Jonathan and sons, 7, 12, 45, 46, 78 ; Joseph, 13, 14 ; Benjamin, 53. 
Clark, Phinehas, 53 ; Capt. Philip, 13, 14. 
Clergy, the, as patriotic leaders, 27, 28. 
Clothing for the army, 50. 

Committees of Correspondence and Safety, 9, 39-44. 
Committee on paper rags, 61. 

Congresses— Berkshire, 19 ; Hampshire, 20 ; First Provincial, 21. 
- Continental money, depreciation of, 51. 

f Cooper, Rev. Dr., 27. 

Corse, Sergt., Ebenezer, 8, 9. 
Danielson, Col. Timothy, 20, 23. 
Dwight, Nathaniel, 41. 

Easthampton — Settlement, 5-8 ; Separate organization, 13 ; Population in 
1790,15; Militia Company, 46 ; Revolutionary soldiers, 52-54; Fur- 
nishes clothing, 50 ; Events of the last decade, 61-80, as follows : 
Banks— First National, 72 ; Savings, 73. 
Churches— First, 14, 61 ; Payson, M. E., and Episcopal, 62. 
Citizens-Notice of; Colton, Rev. A. M., 61; Henshaw, Rer. Marshall. 
D. D., 67 ; Lyman, Rev. Solomon, 66 ; Seelye, Rev. Samuel T., D. D., 
62; Wright, Rev. Luther, 65; White, Ezekiel, 66; Deaths of, 66. 
Manufactures — Williston Mills, 70; National Button, Nashawannuck. 
Glendale, Rubber Thread, Gas, and Valley Machine Companies, 71; 
Mt. Tom Thread Company, 72. 



84 INDEX. 

Easthampton — Public Life — Town Officers, Legislators, Justices, etc., 73, 74 ; 
Professions, 75 ; Tradesmen, 73; Printer, 81 ; Post Office, 75; Sta- 
tistics, 75. 
Public Improvements — Cemeteries, 80; Fire Department, 79; Hotel, 75; 
Library, 77, 78 ; Memorial Tower and Tablet, 77; Museum, 78; Side- 
walk, 79; Town Hall, 76, 77. 
Williston, Hon. Samuel — Last days, death, and funeral, 64; Bequests, 
65; Williston Mills, 70; Purpose as to the Seminary, 69; Gift for 
tiie Cemetery, 80. 
Williston Seminary — Quarter centennial, 67, 68; Alumni association 
and record, 68 ; Endowment, present plans and faculty, 69. 

Hadley, otherwise Norwottuck, purchase and settlement, 4. See also Porter, 
Col. Elisha, 20. 

Hampshire— Conventions, 20, 21, 41 ; Uprising after Lexington, 23, 24 ; Req- 
uisitions for troops, 86, 44-5-7-8-9. 

Hardships, 35-6-8-9. 43. 

Hannum, John, and Eleazer, 8, 13. 

Hendrick, Israel, 9. 

Hawley, Maj. Joseph — Denies England's right to legislate for us, 17 ; We 
must fight, 19 ; Letter to Samuel Adams, 30; As a legislative leader, 31- 
34 ; Urges the defence of the lower Champlain, 35 ; Chairman of Com- 
mittee of Safety, 40 ; Letter to Col. Porter as to deserters, 43 ; His trust 
in God, 55. 

Hitchcock, Rev. Gad, 27. 

Indians, the Norwottucks, their sale of Nonotuck, 2 ; of Capawonk, 3 ; of Had- 
ley, 4 ; Rights retained, 4 ; Their Chiefs, 5 ; Forts, 11 ; Departure, 11 ; 
Massacre at Pascommuck by foreign Indians, 6 ; of N. Edwards, 10 ; 
Anxiety from them, 12. 

Independence dawning, 25, 26; making haste, 29; declared, 30, 31. 

Janes, Dea. Obadiah, 14. 

Judd, Rev. Jonathan, 9, 28. 

Lyman, Dea. Elias, 21-40; Maj. Elihu, 35; Maj. Josiah 36, 37, 41; Capt. 
Joseph 39, 46; Benjamin, 7, 13, 14 ; Benjamin, Jr., 8, 54. 

Mahew, Rev. Jonathan, 27. 

Montgomery, Gen. Richard, 35, 36. 

Nonotuck — Its purchase, 1, 2; Boundaries, 2 ; Settlement, 3. 

Northampton — First to pay the provincial tax levy, 22 ; Her Committee of 
Safety, 40; Her soldiers, 24, 37-8-9, 44-6-9 ; Votes them bounties, 44- 
7-9; Furnishes clothing and beef, 50, 51. 

Pascommuck — Settlement, 6 ; Indian Massacre, 6, 

Pomeroy, Col. Seth — Trusts reposed in him, 21, 22; At Bunker Hill, 25; 
Committee of Safety, 40. 

Pomeroy, Samuel, and Eldad, 8. 

Phelps, Josiah, 8. 

Porter, Col. Elisha — 28, 30; Washington appoints him to lead a regiment to 
Quebec, 36; His diary, 37-39; Letter from Elbridge Gerry, 30; Is vili- 
fied, 42; Letter from Maj. Hawley, 43 ; Entertains Burgoyne, 48. 

Prices regulated, 51, 52. 

Quebec, expedition to, 35-39. 



INDEX. 85 

Revolution — A struggle to maintain ancient rights, 16; Stamp act, 17; Port 
bill, 17; Restraining acts, 17 ; Regulation acts, 18; The people favor re- 
sistance, 19, 20 ; Provincial Congresses, 21-23 ; Martial preparation, 22 ; 
Lexington, 23; Bunker 11111,25; Independence, 29, 30; Military History, 
35-54. 

Settlements — Northampton, 3; Hadley, 4 ; Easthanipton, 5-8; Southamp- 
ton, 9. 

School Meadow, 7, 79. 

Southampton — Trains minute men, 22 ; Her soldiers, 24, 35, 44 ; Her Com- 
mittee of Safety, 40 ; Furnishes clothing, 50. 

Spirit of '76— 44, 45. 

Strong, Hon. Caleb, 34. 

Town Meetings, their importance, 18 ; Pittsfield, 19. 

Webb, John, 1, 3, 5, 6. 

Williston, Rev. Payson, 14 ; Hon. Samuel, 64-9, 79. 

Williston Seminar}^ 67-69. 

Wright, Dea. Stephen, 7, 13, 14. 



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